iTflie  Sheolagtr^/ 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


^»tf. 


PRESENTED  BY 

THE  PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION 


X L 

scS,  ■ 


V 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/scenesinchusanor00loom_0 


lu  rushed  a stalwart  English  Officer  with  drawn  sword,  threateniug 
to  hew  them  to  pieces,  unless  they  delivered  up  the  man 

who  had  stolen  his  cap.  p.  110 


J 

SCENES  IN  CHUSAN, 


MISSIONAKT  LABOURS  BY  THE  WAT. 


BY  THE  ADTHOR  OF  “ 


LEARN  TO  SAT  NO.” 


PHILADELPHIA; 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 
NO.  821  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 
JAMES  DUNLAP,  Teeas., 

in  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  foy  the  Eastern  District 
of  Pennsylvania. 


STESBOirPED  BT 

JESPER  HARDINQ4  SON, 

NO.  57  BOOTH  THIRD  STREET,  PHILADELPBU. 


<D(EDMT1MTS 


Labours  by  the  Way, 

Striking  Appearance  of  Terrace  Cultivation, 

The  Bund 

Tiughae, 

Our  House, 

Chusan  under  English  Magistrates, 

Reading  Meetings  in  the  Army, 

Preaching  in  the  Chapel,  .... 
Preaching  in  the  Hospital,  . . . . 

The  Prayer  Meeting,  .... 

The  Soldier’s  Oratory, 

Monthly  Concert, 

Captain  S 

Lieutenant  E 

The  Contrast,  ....... 

The  Dying  Sailor, 

The  Solitary  Burial,  . • . . . 

The  Young  Artilleryman,  .... 
Regeneration  more  than  Reformation, 

(3) 


FAQ! 

. 5 

8 

12 

13 

14 

16 

19 

20 

23 

29 

33 

37 

41 

51 

58 

69 

77 

81 

93 


4 


CONTENTS, 


Samshu,  and  what  it  did,  . . . . 

The  Suicide 

The  Midnight  Affright,  .... 
Wedded  to  Forms,  .... 
The  Sergeant’s  Family,  . . . . 

Things  not  in  Keeping  at  a Funeral, 

Of  the  Sergeant  himself,  .... 
\Miat  a Loss  is  it  to  lose  a Wife, 

Woman’s  Mission 

Her  Husband  is  known  in  the  Gates, 

Mrs.  C 

The  unfaithful  Wife,  .... 

Sergeant  R , and  Corporal  C , 

The  two  Friends, 

The  last  Time, 

A thankful  Hearer,  .... 

Collateral  Benefits  of  Foreign  Missions, 

What  Pay  do  you  receive  ? . . . 

Worldly  Men  cannot  understand  our  Motives, 
The  Fashion  of  this  World  passeth  away, 
The  Author’s  Apology 


PIOI 

100 

100 

110 

112 

137 

140 

143 

149 

151 

156 

167 

170 

179 

184 

191 

209 

216 

222 

226 

236 

241 


LABOURS  BY  THE  WAY. 


By  this  I mean  certain  labours  per- 
formed by  a missionary  of  the  Board 
of  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
while  residing  atChusan,  which  labours 
were  outside  of  those  which  occupied 
his  principal  time  and  attention,  as  one 
sent  out  especially  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel to  the  inhabitants  of  China. 

The  period  during  which  the  inci- 
dents narrated  in  these  sketches  oc- 
curred, was  between  April  1st,  1845, 
and  August  7th,  1846.  The  materials 
from  which  this  little  work  is  now  com- 
posed, have  long  been  lying  amongst  a 
1*  (5) 


6 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


pile  of  note-books  and  journals,  ne- 
glected, and  perhaps  expecting  soon  to 
be  forgotten,  and  to  go  the  way  that 
other  rubbish  goes. 

The  reperusal  of  these  old  records 
has  called  up  a thousand  reminis- 
cences, which  were  not  traced  with 
pen  and  ink  on  perishable  paper,  yet 
were  inscribed  on  the  tablets  which 
are  laid  up  somewhere  in  the  great 
archive  chambers  of  the  memory. 

GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  ISLAND. 

Before  proceeding  further,  I would 
like  very  much,  if  it  were  possible,  to 
give  you  some  account  of  Chusan — of 
the  island  itself,  with  its  valleys  and 
hills ; its  villages,  and  mountain-streams, 
and  canals.  But  I have  no  idea  at  all 
of  being  able  to  give  you  the  picture 
of  the  scenery  as  it  is  even  now  in  my 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  ISLAND.  7 

memory.  Had  I something  of  the 
painter’s  or  the  poet’s  art,  I might  at- 
tempt it;  but  now  in  mere  dull  prose  I 
will  simply  say,  that  Chusan  is  an 
island  about  half  way  up  the  coast  from 
Canton  to  where  that  “great  wall,” 
which  bounds  the  eighteen  provinces  of 
China  on  the  north,  comes  down  to  the 
sea.  It  is  about  thirty  miles  east  of 
the  mouth  of  the  river  on  which  Ningpo 
is  situated.  It  is  the  largest  of  a very 
numerous  group  of  islands,  and  is  quite 
important  to  the  Chinese  government 
as  a naval  station.  The  island  is 
about  twenty  miles  long,  and  averaging 
ten  or  eleven  miles  in  width. 

It  is  beautiful,  very  beautiful,  and 
always  so,  whether  in  summer  or  in 
winter ; and  wherever  one  might  go, 
and  from  whatever  point  he  might  view 
it,  there  were  new  attractions.  Strangers 


8 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


were  unbounded  in  their  praise  of  it ; 
yet  those  who  had  been  there  the 
longest,  and  seen  it  most,  praised  it 
more  than  the  strangers. 

The  natural  advantages  of  the  scenery 
seemed  to  be  studied  by  the  Chinese 
inhabitants,  who,  with  their  peculiarly 
good  taste  in  this  respect,  added  arti- 
ficial adornments. 

STRIKING  APPEARANCE  OF  TERRACE  CUL- 
TIVATION. 

I well  remember  the  impression 
made  by  the  first  view  of  the  island  as 
we  approached  it  from  the  ocean.  It 
rose  up  before  us  out  of  the  sea ; the 
hill  was  high,  and  began  its  ascent 
from  the  water’s  edge;  and  it  was 
very  steep,  but  entirely  green  to  its 
summit.  Over  it,  and  along  its  slope, 
were  winding  foot-paths  in  every  di- 


TERRACE  CULTIVATION. 


9 


rection,  and  in  these  were  people  mov- 
ing hither  and  thither,  and  up  and  down; 
here  a man  with  broad-brimmed  hat, 
leading  a cow  by  a string  in  the  nose  ; 
there  a child  tending  a goat  while  it 
picked  the  grass  by  the  way-side, 
followed  by  her  kids.  In  places 
where  the  hill  was  otherwise  too  steep 
for  cultivation,  it  was  terraced  ; that 
is,  a wall  of  stone  was  laid,  and  the 
soil  thrown  in  behind  it  and  levelled 
down,  then  back  of  this  another  wall, 
and  so  on.  Seen  from  a distance,  one 
might  fancy  that  they  were  stairs  for 
giants. 

The  island  of  Chusan  is  made  up  of 
hills  and  valleys,  and  some  of  the  hills 
would  in  some  countries  be  dignified 
as  mountains.  Through  the  valleys, 
across  the  broad  plains,  along  the  hill- 
sides, up  the  hills,  and  down  again, 


10 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


and  through  the  mountain-passes,  were 
roads,  and  foot-paths,  seldom  keeping 
on  a straight  line  for  any  distance,  but 
curving  gracefully. 

There  was  every  variety  in  the  col- 
ouring of  the  landscape;  for  the  ele- 
vated grounds  exhibited  their  little 
patches  of  grain  and  vegetables,  and 
the  valleys  their  fields  of  different 
kinds  of  grain.  Here  and  there  were 
the  tombs  of  wealthy  families  set  off 
with  various  figures  cut  out  of  stone, 
and  made  attractive  by  ornamental 
trees ; while  the  hills  near  the  city 
were  entirely  covered  with  humbler 
graves.  Yonder,  in  a shaded  glen,  was 
a temple,  but  nearly  or  quite  concealed 
from  distant  view  by  majestic  trees, 
and  by  bamboo  groves  on  the  adjacent 
hills ; and  ever  and  anon,  as  you  ex- 
tend your  walk,  an  altar  is  encountered 


TERRACE  CULTIVATION. 


11 


in  a romantic  turn  of  the  road — rude 
or  more  finished — or  a shrine  espied 
far  up  a retreating  cove,  which  you 
have  passed  twenty  times  perhaps,  and 
never  espied  it  until  now.  Here  you 
approach  a gentleman’s  establishment; 
here  a landlord’s  premises  with  a high 
wall  around  it,  like  all  houses  of  any 
importance  in  China,  whether  in  town 
or  country,  as  a defence  from  robbers. 
There  you  see  a public  garden  with  its 
grotto  and  fish-pond,  its  labyrinth  of 
artificial  rocks,  its  dwarf  trees,  with 
numerous  little  pavilions,  alcoves,  and 
chambers  furnished  with  couches,  on 
which  visitors  may  lounge,  and  the 
opium-smoker  inhale  that  deadly  nar- 
cotic. 

The  numerous  thatched  cottages  of 
the  Chinese  peasants,  surrounded  with 
their  walls  of  earth  or  with  palings, 


12 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


were  pretty,  if  viewed  from  a sufficient 
distance. 


THE  BUND. 

The  Levee,  or,  “ Bund,”  as  those 
called  it  who  came  from  India,  was  an 
embankment,  somewhat  crescent  in 
form,  extending,  perhaps,  two  miles 
from  the  hills  which  flanked  the  valley 
on  either  side ; it  had  served  the  Chi- 
nese the  double  purpose  of  an  embank- 
ment to  keep  back  the  salt  waters  of 
the  sea  from  their  fields,  and,  as  they 
had  supposed,  to  keep  olF  a foreign 
enemy ; for  from  one  end  of  it  to  the 
other,  they  had  thrown  up  hillocks  of 
sand,  behind  which  the  men,  who  fired 
big  guns  at  the  enemy’s  ships,  might 
retire  when  the  enemy’s  balls  should 
come  back  to  them.  When  the  Eng- 
lish established  themselves  on  the 


TINGHAE. 


13 


island,  they  levelled  many  of  those  hil- 
locks, and  made  a fine  promenade, 
where  might  he  enjoyed  the  air  fresh 
from  the  sea,  with  a view  of  the  oppo- 
site islands,  and  the  shipping  in  the 
harbour. 

About  midway  of  this  levee  was 
the  hill  on  which  had  been  a Chinese 
fort,  but  at  the  time  of  which  I am 
speaking,  it  was  occupied  by  the  great 
guns  of  the  English.  On  one  side  of 
this  hill  were  barracks  for  the  troops, 
on  the  other  side  were  the  trading 
houses  of  the  foreigners  and  Chinese, 
while  just  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
hill,  and  at  its  foot,  was  the  burying- 
ground  for  foreigners. 

TINGHAE. 

The  city  of  Tinghae  with  its  wall 
and  moat,  and  its  four  gates  corres- 
2 


14 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


ponding  to  the  four  cardinal  points  of 
the  compass,  stood  in  the  valley,  a 
mile  or  more  from  the  harbour,  between 
which  and  the  city  was  a winding  road, 
paved  with  broad  flat  stones,  and  about 
midway  was  a covered  bazaar,  always 
filled  with  a chaffering  and  chattering 
multitude,  through  which  the  passenger 
was  obliged  to  elbow  his  way. 

OUR  HOUSE. 

The  house  in  which  we  lived  for  a 
while,  in  the  city,  was  a little  low  cot- 
tage, and  the  enclosure  of  the  yard 
was  as  high  as  the  eaves  of  the  house, 
so  that  we  had  nothing  to  look  out 
upon  but  a blank  wall  of  blue  brick. 
In  the  yard  were  a few  trees,  and 
some  artificial  rock  work.  On  one 
side  was  a street  wide  enough  for  one 
person  to  meet  another  quite  comfort- 


OUR  HOUSE. 


15 


ably;  on  the  other  a canal  with  a 
broad  paved  walk  between  it  and  our 
wall,  and  a few  willow  trees  overhang- 
ing the  water.  This  house  had  once 
been  the  residence,  for  a few  months, 
of  an  English  missionary,  while  the 
war  between  the  English  and  Chinese 
was  in  progress,  at  which  time  the 
Chinese  were  paying  large  bounty  on 
English  heads;  and  one  of  the  tradi- 
tions of  those  times  was,  that  one  night 
the  missionary,  hearing  a rustling  in 
the  narrow  yard  at  the  rear  of  his 
house,  arose  from  his  bed,  seized  his 
loaded  gun,  crept  around  to  the  corner 
of  the  house,  and  fired  away  in  the 
direction  of  the  noise;  and  immedi- 
ately there  was  a scrambling  of  some- 
thing over  the  wall,  and  a pattering  of 
bare  feet  up  the  street,  and  the  mis- 
sionary sought  his  bed  again.  In  the 


16 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


morning,  curiosity  prompted  him  to 
take  a better  look  by  daylight,  and 
where  the  noise  was  heard,  there  he 
found  a bag  and  a large  knife.  He 
was  glad  to  feel  his  head  still  on  his 
shoulders. 

CHUSAN  UNDER  MAGISTRATES  APPOINTED 
BY  THE  ENGLISH  COMMANDANT. 

At  the  time  of  which  I am  speak- 
ing, Chusan  was  held  by  the  English. 
The  people  on  the  hills  and  in  the  dis- 
tant valleys,  lived  pretty  much  without 
regard  to  magistrates,  and  paid  no  tax- 
es; disputes  were,  to  a great  extent, 
settled  by  arbitration  amongst  them- 
selves ; but  cases  of  piracy  and  rob- 
bery, and  controversies  between  Chi- 
nese and  foreigners  were  brought 
before  the  English  magistrate.  The 
island  was  held  by  England  as  a depot 


CHUSAN  UNDER  ENGLISH  MAGISTRATES.  17 

for  troops  and  naval  stores;  and  as  a 
security  for  the  payment  of  the  twen- 
ty-one millions  of  dollars,  which,  in  the 
treaty  at  Nankin,  the  Chinese  pro- 
mised their  enemy,  on  condition  that 
the  war  should  not  be  prosecuted 
further.  Six  millions  of  that  sum 
were  for  the  opium  which  Commission- 
er Lin  had  destroyed  at  Canton ; 
three  millions  to  remunerate  English 
merchants  for  losses  sustained  by 
them  in  consequence  of  the  war,  and 
twelve  to  the  English  government,  to 
cover  the  expenses  of  the  war.  And 
that  was  one  of  the  subjects  which 
the  Chinese  common  people  never 
seemed  to  get  a really  clear  conception 
of — why  a nation  should  be  made  to 
pay  for  being  conquered ! 

The  troops  stationed  at  Chusan  con- 
sisted generally  of  one  regiment  of  in- 
2* 


18 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


fantry  from  England,  and  one  of  native 
infantry  from  India.  These  were  na- 
tives of  Hindostan  officered  by  Eng- 
lishmen— white  officers,  and  jet  black 
soldiers ; besides  these,  there  was  a 
company  of  artillery,  and  a detachment 
of  sappers  and  miners. 

There  were  occasional  changes  how- 
ever; one  regiment  or  company  with- 
drawn, and  another  put  in  its  place, 
and  recruits  were  arriving  out  from 
home  to  fill  the  gaps  in  the  ranks  made 
by  war  or  disease. 

There  was  no  chaplain  at  the  sta- 
tion, but,  as  the  regulations  in  the  ser- 
vice required,  the  Protestant  troops 
were  assembled  once  each  Sabbath- 
day,  in  a building  erected  for  a chapel, 
and  the  “ collects  ” of  the  church  of 
England  were  read  by  some  one  of  the 
officers;  and  those  of  the  soldiers  who 


READING  MEETINGS. 


19 


were  Roman  Catholics  were  marched 
away  to  a little  chapel  of  the  French 
priest. 

READING  MEETINGS  IN  THE  ARMY. 

There  were  a few  pious  officers  and 
men  that  were  not  sufficiently  fed  with 
the  formal  reading  of  the  prayers  and 
lessons ; and  they  had  been  in  the  ha- 
bit of  meeting  every  Sabbath  at  the 
quarters  of  one  of  the  pious  officers, 
where  they  joined  in  prayer  and  sing- 
ing, and  in  listening  to  the  word  of 
God,  and  to  a sermon  which  was  read 
from  a printed  volume.  They  found 
their  “ reading  meetings  ” pleasant  and 
profitable;  and  this,  though  many  who 
attended  them  were  members  of  a 
church  in  which  there  are  more  forms, 
and  where  more  stress  is  usually  laid 
upon  having  the  services  of  a clergy- 


20 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


man  in  any  religious  meeting,  than  is 
the  case  amongst  some  other  denomi- 
nations of  Christians. 

Upon  our  arrival  at  the  island,  I 
was  requested  to  take  this  service,  and 
on  the  following  Sabbath  we  met,  as 
had  been  their  custom,  at  the  house 

of  a Captain  S , in  the  city.  The 

audience,  as  usual,  consisted  of  a few 
officers  from  different  companies,  a few 
privates,  and  two  or  three  missionaries 
who  were  on  their  way  to  other  sta- 
tions. 


PREACHING  IN  THE  CHAPEL. 

After  this  we  obtained  the  privilege 
of  holding  this  service  in  the  chapel, 
which  was  near  the  cantonment.  It 
was  very  rough  in  its  appearance,  as 
were  most  of  the  houses  erected  by 
the  English,  as  it  was  only  for  tempo- 
rary use. 


PREACHING  IN  THE  CHAPEL.  21 

The  seats  were  narrow  planks  with- 
out backs ; but  it  was  capacious  enough 
to  hold  all  the  Protestant  troops,  then 
on  the  island,  when  closely  packed. 

A large  portion  of  those  who  attend- 
ed at  the  chapel  were  such  as  would 
not  be  likely  to  seek  out  a little  band 
of  worshippers  in  an  upper  room  in  the 
city.  Amongst  those  present,  might 
be  seen  a few  officers  with  their  fami- 
lies, a few  of  the  merchants  and  their 
clerks,  occasionally  a stranger;  and 
sometimes  officers  and  people  from  the 
ships,  and  as  many  of  the  private  sol- 
diers as  chose  to  attend,  unless  they 
were  at  the  time  on  duty. 

I like  to  think  of  those  meetings. 
They  were  composed  of  people  from 
different  parts  of  the  world,  far  sepa- 
rated from  their  homes.  Many  of 
them  had  been  bred  religiously,  but 


22 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


some  had  almost  forgotten  early  in- 
structions, and  fallen  into  loose  and 
immoral  habits.  Many,  we  hope,  in 
that  chapel  had  the  lessons  of  child- 
hood brought  again  to  mind,  and  the 
religious  impressions  of  earlier  days 
revived;  and  in  some  cases,  as  we 
have  reason  to  believe,  the  effect  was 
lasting. 

In  our  services,  w'e  had  exemplified 
what  is  meant  by  “Christian  union;” 
for  while  the  worshippers  were  of  sev- 
eral different  denominations,  the  ques- 
tion was  seldom  asked.  Of  what  church 
are  you  ? but  one  took  his  brother  by 
the  hand,  and  all  sung  together  the 
songs  of  Zion ; together  we  offered 
supplications  for  common  blessings,  and 
together  listened  to  the  word  of  our 
common  Father. 

Those  Sabbaths,  especially  during 


PREACHING  IN  THE  HOSPITAL.  23 

the  hours  of  public  worship,  were  sea- 
sons of  calm,  spiritual  delight.  There 
might  be  confusion  in  the  barracks  not 
tar  off,  and  most  of  us  in  going  to  the 
chapel  had  made  our  way  through  the 
crowds  of  Chinese,  who  have  no  day 
of  rest,  and  who  were  busy,  as  ever 
are  that  very  busy  people,  at  their 
wonted  occupations.  Yet  we,  in  God’s 
good  providence,  were  permitted  to  en- 
joy a day  of  holy  rest,  and  to  engage 
in  service,  that  might  remind  us  of,  and 
which  might  help  to  fit  us  for,  the  as- 
sembly that  shall  never  break  up,  and 
the  Sabbath  that  shall  never  end. 

PREACHING  IN  THE  HOSPITAL. 

Near  the  cantonments,  and  close  by 
the  sea-shore,  was  the  military  hospital 
— a large  brick  building  of  two  sto- 
ries, having  three  large  rooms  for  the 


24 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


sick  on  each  floor,  which  extended 
nearly  the  entire  length  of  the  build- 
ing. 

In  this,  were  generally  from  eighty 
to  a hundred  patients,  and  sometimes 
more. 

A few  days  after  landing  on  the 
island,  I visited  the  hospital  and  dis- 
tributed tracts  to  such  of  the  patients 
as  would  receive  them.  Shortly  after- 
wards, while  on  a visit  to  a poor  man 
who  was  expecting  soon  to  die,  and 
who  had  desired  to  see  me,  the  officer 
in  charge  intimating  that  there  were 
some  amongst  the  invalids,  that  would 
he  glad  of  a religious  service  in  the 
hospital  on  the  Sabbath,  permission 
was  obtained  from  the  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  station,  and  from  that 
time  till  the  island  was  restored  to  the 
Chinese  government,  the  gospel  was 


PREACHING  IN  THE  HOSPITAL.  25 

preached  in  that  place  every  Sabbath- 
day  to  the  sick  and  the  maimed. 

By  standing  in  the  middle  of  the 
building,  and  by  opening  the  doors  be- 
tween the  wards,  all  the  occupants  of 
that  floor  were  within  the  sound  of  the 
preacher’s  voice ; and  as  many  as  were 
able,  or  disposed,  would  come  from  the 
low'er  to  the  upper,  or  from  the  upper 
to  the  lower  stor}'-,  according  as  the 
services  were  held  above  or  below. 
And  there  were  some,  on  the  other 
hand,  who,  if  they  were  able,  would 
leave  the  room  during  the  time  of  the 
service;  for  so  wicked  is  man  while  in 
his  natural  state,  and  so  much  at  en- 
mit}'^  with  God,  that  there  are  everywhere 
to  be  found  those  who  will  endeavour 
to  run  away,  so  as  not  to  hear  what 
God  would  speak  to  them  by  the  mouth 
of  his  servants. 


3 


26 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Those  services  were  conducted  un- 
der solemn  circumstances.  The  people 
all  now  in  a strange  land,  far  away 
from  home  and  kindred ; some  had 
long  led  a wandering  life,  and  had  be- 
come hardened  by  many  years  of  mili- 
tary service  in  different  parts  of  the 
world,  and  by  exposure  to  all  the  vices 
of  the  camp  ; while  others  were  young^ 
and  were  now  eating  the  bitter  fruits 
of  some  youthful  folly,  perhaps  for 
which  they  ran  away  from  home,  en- 
listed, and  were  sent  far  off,  and  not 
unlikely  would  be  buried  where  no 
friendly  hand  might  adorn  or  guard 
their  grave,  and  where  no  tear  of  kin- 
dred would  fall  upon  it. 

In  that  congregation  of  the  sick, 
some,  doubtless,  were  at  the  time  re- 
volving serious  thoughts.  God  had 
laid  his  hand  upon  them,  had  in  a mea- 


PREACHING  IN  THE  HOSPITAL.  27 

sure  arrested  them  in  their  career  of 
sin,  and  was  calling  to  them  in  the 
voice  of  his  providence  to  stop,  and 
think  upon  their  ways  ; and  while  sit- 
ting up,  or  lying  on  their  cots,  there 
was  reason  to  hope  there  might  be  a 
word  in  season  made  to  sink  deep  into 
some  heart. 

Seldom  was  the  word  of  God  preached 
there,  but  his  providence  was  preaching 
also.  Either  there  would  be  a re- 
cently vacated  couch,  from  which  a 
comrade  had  been  borne  to  the  deposi- 
tory of  the  dead,  or  before  us  was  one 
whose  prospects  of  recovery  were  daily 
becoming  less ; or  from  another  quarter 
of  the  building  Avould  come  to  our  ears 
the  groan,  or  the  heavy  breathing  of 
one  just  on  the  confines  of  eternity, 
clinging  indeed  to  this  world,  but  soon 
to  be  torn  from  everything  he  loved 
on  earth. 


28 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


In  the  midst  of  such  scenes,  how 
could  one  commissioned  to  beseech  men 
in  Christ’s  stead  to  be  reconciled  to 
God,  but  feel  the  value  of  the  passing 
hour,  the  importance  of  dealing  faith- 
fully with  souls,  and  an  earnest  desire 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  might  apply  the 
truth  ? 

When  that  public  service  was  con- 
cluded, tracts  were  sometimes  distri- 
buted amongst  the  patients,  and  as  time 
and  occasion  favoured,  we  had  private 
conversation  with  one  and  another. 

Occasionally  during  the  week  I 
dropped  in,  and  passed  around  amongst 
the  sick,  if  perchance  any  opportunity 
might  be  afforded  of  speaking  a word 
in  season,  of  administering  any  com- 
fort to  some  disciple  of  Christ,  or  of 
directing  some  inquiring  one  to  the 
Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away  the 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 


29 


sins  of  the  world.  At  other  times 
messengers  were  sent  to  our  house  in 
the  city  with  a request  from  some  one 
who  was  nigh  unto  death,  and  wished 
to  see  me  ere  he  died. 

THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 

There  was  another  service  M'hich  we 
very  highly  prized.  It  was  the  Wed- 
nesday evening  prayer  meeting,  at  our 
own  house  in  the  city,  attended  by  such 
of  the  pious  or  inquiring  soldiers  as 
could  get  leave  for  the  occasion.  Some- 
times there  was  a well-filled  room, 
sometimes  only  that  little  number  which 
might  remind  us  of  the  special  promise 
to  the  two  or  three.  Many  of  the  com- 
mon soldiers  were  quite  illiterate  men, 
but  we  loved  to  follow  them  in  prayer, 
for  they  prayed  in  simplicity,  and  great 
apparent  sincerity.  They  evidently 
3* 


30 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


enjoyed  these  meetings ; they  felt  that 
it  was  good  to  he  there.  We  trust 
that  the  pious  soldier,  by  those  means 
of  grace,  gathered  courage  and  strength 
to  be  a more  valiant  soldier  for  Christ. 

Prayers  were  there  offered  for  souls 
that  were  labouring  and  heavy-laden, 
who  sometimes  bowed  with  us.  By 
those  meetings,  the  missionary  and  his 
wife  were  cheered  and  encouraged  in 
their  solitary  home — solitary,  though 
they  were  in  the  midst  of  a crowded 
city.  Here  they  often  found  occasion 
to  thank  God,  and  take  courage. 

The  power  of  religion  as  manifested 
in  the  lives  of  those  few  pious  soldiers, 
was  not  without  its  benefit  to  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  to  the  idolaters,  amongst 
whom  the}’’  were  labouring. 

Satan  sometimes  injects  troublesome 
thoughts  into  the  hearts  of  God’s  peo- 


THE  PRAYER  MEETING. 


31 


pie,  such  as  these — whether,  after  all, 
there  is  anything  in  religion — whether 
there  is  any  use  in  trying  any  more  to 
bring  men  to  believe  in  Jesus — whether 
it  is  of  any  use  to  instruct  the  heathen 
in  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of 
God. 

Let  a person  troubled  with  such 
thoughts  step  into  a prayer  meeting, 
and  witness  what  enjoyments  the 
saints  have  in  their  communion  one 
with  another,  and  with  God;  let  him 
witness  how  fervent  are  their  prayers, 
which  are  offered  as  though  they  be- 
lieved that  they  occupied  a place  very 
near  the  mercy-seat;  let  him  notice  how 
feelings  of  devotion  are  enkindled,  as 
wdth  one  voice  they  offer  songs  of 
praise ; let  him  mark  how  punctually 
and  regularly  they  attend — not  hin- 
dered by  rain,  or  the  darkness,  nor 


32 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


turned  aside  by  entertainments  which 
attract  the  worldly;  let  him  witness 
this,  and  he  will  say  that  there  is  some- 
thing in  religion,  that  Jesus  does  mani- 
fest himself  to  his  disciples,  as  he  does 
not  to  the  world;  that  he  does  give 
them  meat  to  eat,  which  the  world 
knows  not  of;  and  the  heathen,  when 
they  notice  that  from  month  to  month 
they  forsake  not  the  assembling  of  them- 
selves together,  and  see  with  what 
sincerity  they  worship  an  unseen  God, 
and  what  enjoyment  they  seem  to  find 
in  the  work  of  prayer  and  praise,  and 
what  communications  of  joy  and  peace 
they  seem  to  receive;  and  when,  too, 
they  observe  their  outward  conduct, 
so  different  from  that  of  many  others 
who  come  not  with  them  to  the  place 
of  prayer,  are  constrained  to  own 
that  there  must  be  some  power  in  the 


They  '*vuuld  fiatl  a quiet  place  somewlievc  by  the  sea-side,  among 
(he  rocks.  P- 


THE  soldier’s  ORATORY.  33 

Christian  religion  which  is  not  found  in 
their  own. 

THE  soldier’s  ORATORY. 

As  there  would  nearly  every  week 
be  some  who  could  not  be  present  with 
us  at  the  meeting  for  prayer,  and  as 
there  were  others  who  felt  the  need, 
or  desired  the  pleasures  of  social 
prayer  more  frequently  than  once  a 
week,  they  were  accustomed  to  get  to- 
gether in  some  vacant  room,  or  in  the 
quarters  of  a pious  family  in  the  bar- 
racks. At  other  times,  they  would 
seek  a secluded  place  in  the  fields,  or 
amongst  the  high  mounds  of  the  Chi- 
nese tombs,  and  the  trees  which  sur- 
rounded them,  or  they  would  find  a 
quiet  place  somewhere  by  the  sea-side 
amongst  the  rocks  ; and  here  it  was 
they  had  their  Bethels  and  their  Pe- 


34 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


niels.  The  hearts  of  God’s  people  do 
somehow  always  seem  to  flow  together. 
Whether  it  be  the  few  disciples  in  the 
upper  room  at  Jerusalem,  or  the  women 
at  Philippi,  who  resorted  to  the  river- 
side, to  the  place  where  prayer  was 
wont  to  be  made,  or  these  devout 
soldiers,  pouring  out  their  hearts  in 
supplication  and  praise  wherever  they 
could  find  a favourable  opportunity; 
our  hearts  are  with  them,  the  flame  of 
devotion  is  enkindled  in  oui*  hearts, 
they  are  our  brethren,  and  we  embrace 
them  in  the  arms  of  Christian  love  and 
fellowship,  and  are  cheered  with  the 
thought  that  in  heaven  this  love  and 
communion  shall  be  perfect  and  per- 
petual. 

As  unfriendly  to  growth  in  grace  as 
life  in  the  barracks  might  seem  to  be, 
yet  those  pious  soldiers  were  mani- 


THE  soldier’s  ORATORY.  35 

festly,  for  the  most  part,  advancing  in 
holiness.  In  everything  pertaining  to 
their  religion,  they  were  decided  ; they 
appeared  to  be  marching  shoulder  to 
shoulder,  presenting  a bold  front  to  all 
their  spiritual  enemies ; and,  doubtless, 
they  had  found  this  the  only  way  for 
them  to  do,  unless  they  would  be  car- 
ried away  by  the  many  influences  which 
were  adverse  to  holiness. 

To  perform  sentry’s  duty  was  not 
always  to  them  a disagreeable  service, 
for  it  afforded  them  so  much  time  for 
private  meditation. 

They  were  also  ever  on  the  look  out 
for  opportunities  of  doing  good.  If 
they  found  a fellow-soldier  that  seemed 
at  all  inclined  to  seriousness,  or  one 
that  was  alarmed,  or  awakened  in  any 
way,  they  stood  ready  to  invite  him 
to  the  religious  meetings.  If  a com- 


36 


SCENES  m CHUSAN. 


, rade  had  been  taken  ill,  and  was  car- 
ried to  the  hospital,  the  minister  was 
informed  of  it.  The  tracts  with  which 
they  were  supplied,  they  distributed 
as  they  found  fitting  occasion ; and  the 
books  which  had  been  profitable  to 
themselves,  they  recommended  to 
others.  And  here  was  the  origin  of  a 
little  circulating  library  with  which 
they  provided  themselves  through  our 
agency,  made  up  of  books  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Board  of  Publication,  and  of 
the  Tract  Society,  with  volumes  from 
the  libraries  of  the  missionaries. 

These  were  made  to  do  good  service; 
they  passed  around  from  one  to  an- 
other; and  on  the  removal  of  the  gar- 
rison, were  taken  on  with  them  to  In- 
dia. How  much  good  that  chest  of 
books  has  done  we  do  not  know,  nor 
do  we  expect  to  know  in  this  world ; 


MONTHLY  CONCERT. 


37 


it  is  enough  for  us  to  cast  our  bread 
upon  the  waters,  in  the  belief  that  it 
shall  be  seen  again  after  many  days. 
Bunyan’s  “ Pilgrim’s  Progress  ” and 
“ Holy  War,”  were  well  worn — they 
were  in  constant  circulation  amongst 
those  who  liked  them  for  nothing  but 
their  quaintness,  and  their  story. 

MONTHLY  CONCERT. 

The  monthly  concert  was  a meeting 
which  the  soldiers  seemed  well-pleased 
to  attend ; and  their  contributions  were 
applied  towards  the  support  of  the 
little  school  of  Chinese  boys  in  our 
house.  It  was  gratifying  to  notice  the 
interest  they  took  in  our  work,  and  in 
missionary  operations  generally.  They 
desired  that  others  should  taste  and 
see  that  the  Lord  is  gracious.  The 
joys  they  felt,  and  the  hopes  they  en- 
4 


38 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


tertained,  they  would  have  all  to  come  in 
possession  of.  Benevolence  is  one  of 
the  evidences  of  conversion.  Desire 
for  the  salvation  of  souls,  is  one  of  the 
marks  of  the  Christian;  and  meetings 
for  prayer  for  the  success  of  Christian 
missions,  for  the  conversion  of  the 
world,  are  much  enjoyed  by  every 
child  of  Grod  that  is  at  all  enlightened 
and  awake  to  the  interests  of  religion, 
and  the  welfare  of  his  own  soul. 

What  we  have  been  speaking  of 
were  but  incidental,  or  collateral  la- 
bours; our  principal  work  as  mission- 
aries was  with  the  Chinese,  studying 
their  language,  visiting  amongst  them 
from  house  to  house,  distributing  tracts 
in  their  language,  and  attending  to  all 
such  labours  as  could  be  engaged  in  by 
a person  in  the  first  months  of  his 
missionary  life.  This  was  our  princi- 


MONTHLY  CONCERT. 


39 


pal  work.  But  when  such  a door  was 
opened  before  us  for  usefulness  amongst 
people  speaking  our  own  language,  how 
could  we  turn  from  it?  There  is  rea- 
son to  hope  that  some  of  the  seed 
which  was  sown  fell  into  good  ground. 
A few  of  the  followers  of  Christ  were 
encouraged.  Instruction  was  imparted 
to  some  who  were  desirous  to  know 
what  they  must  do  to  be  saved. 
Others  were  visited  in  their  affliction  ; 
and  it  is  believed  that  occasionally,  a 
few  drops  of  consolation,  like  a cup 
of  cold  water,  may  have  been  given  to 
the  friends  of  Him  who  will  say,  “ In- 
asmuch as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one 
of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye 
have  done  it  unto  me.”  Some,  on 
their  d}dng  beds,  were  told  of  the 
Lajnb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sins 
of  the  world ; and  it  may  be,  that  in 


40 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


an  instance  here  or  there,  salvation 
was  accepted  even  at  the  point  of 
death.  Such  may  possibly  have  been 
the  case.  We  have  the  record  in 
scripture  of  the  conversion  of  one  in 
similar  circumstances ; the  thief  who 
prayed,  “ Lord,  remember  me  when 
thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom.”  But 
we  have  no  other  instance  of  a death- 
bed repentance  in  the  Scriptures,  and 
this  may  teach  not  to  cease  labouring 
and  praying  for  the  conversion  of  any 
so  long  as  they  have  life ; but  it  also 
teaches  the  danger  of  deferring  repent- 
ance till  a dying  hour,  and  the  great 
probability  that  those  who  have  re- 
jected the  offers  of  mercy  all  their 
days,  till  the  very  pangs  of  death  be- 
gin to  be  felt,  will  die  as  they  have 
lived. 


CAPTAIN  S- 


41. 


CAPTAIN  S . 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of 

Captain  S . A noble  man  he  was 

— a Christian  gentleman — a hearty, 
earnest  Christian,  and  not  ashamed  of 
Christ,  and  not  ashamed  to  own  as  his 
brother  any  one  that  belonged  to  the 
household  of  faith.  He  was  a member 
of  the  church  of  England.  He  was 
a Dublin  man,  and  possessed  some  of 
the  best  characteristics  of  his  nation. 
His  family  was  with  him — a wife  and 
two  sweet  children.  He  was  a captain 
in  the  regiment  of  native  infantry  from 
India,  where  he  had  long  been  in  the 
service  of  the  East  India  Company. 

His  greatest  pleasure  seemed  to  be 
found  in  doing  good.  Speaking,  with 
ease  and  correctness,  the  language  used 
principally  by  the  natives  near  Ma- 

4* 


42 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


dras,  from  which  region  most  of  the 
people  of  his  regiment  came,  they  re- 
posed confidence  in  him,  and  looked  to 
him  as  their  friend,  and  listened  re- 
spectfully, when  on  the  Sabbath  he  as- 
sembled them  for  religious  instruction : 
He  visited  the  sick  amongst  them,  could 
talk  with  them  about  their  homes,  and 
encourage  them  with  the  prospect  of 
soon  returning  to  their  friends  and  na- 
tive land. 

How  much  good  may  a Christian 
man  always  be  doing  ! He  may  he 
scattering  benefits  along  his  path, 
cheering  and  encouraging  his  fellow- 
men,  even  by  smiles  and  kind  words, 
becoming  none  the  poorer,  but  ra- 
ther growing  richer  by  the  benefits 
which  he  thus  imparts. 

One  who  has  a heart  full  of  kind- 
ness, will  be  likely  to  have  his  eyes 


CAPTAIN  S- 


43 


open,  watching  for  opportunities  of  do- 
ing good ; he  will  not  pass  by  on  the 
other  side,  and  allow  to  remain  unre- 
lieved, or  uncomforted,  the  poor,  the 
stranger,  or  any  sufferer. 

He  is  ever  merciful ; and  “ blessed 
are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain 
mercy.” 

This  was  the  kind-hearted  captain 
that  greeted  us  in  the  spirit  of  a bro- 
ther when  we  landed  on  the  island ; 
and  we  anticipated  much  assistance 
from  him  in  the  religious  meetings. 
But  our  expectations  were  to  be  disap- 
pointed. It  was  but  a few  times  that 
he  might  worship  with  the  people  of 
God  on  earth ; but  a few  times,  that 
we  might  unite  with  him  in  his  hearty 
prayers  in  our  social  worship,  for  He, 
with  whom  he  had  long  been  walking 
was  about  to  take  him  to  himself. 


44 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Disease,  which  he,  from  his  experi- 
ence and  observation  for  so  long  a 
time  in  India,  had  feared  was  creeping 
on  him,  now  took  a violent  hold  upon 
his  system,  and  laid  him  on  his  couch; 
and  there  I found  him,  when  one  morn- 
ing I called  to  consult  with  him  re- 
specting a young  man  that  had  request- 
ed to  be  baptized  and  received  to  the 
communion.  A remark  of  his  at  the 
time,  indicated  how  he  regarded  the 
trials  to  which  all  those  are  exposed 
who,  in  the  army,  attempt  to  lead  a 
godly  life.  He  said  that  he  could  not 
conceive  of  very  many  reasons  why  a 
person  in  the  camp  should  desire  to 
make  a public  profession  of  religion, 
unless  he  felt  the  same  to  be  a privi- 
lege, and  was  determined  to  take  up 
his  cross  and  follow  Christ.  There 
was  something  in  his  manner  of  say- 


CAPTAIN  S- 


45 


ing  this,  that  would  give  the  impres- 
sion that  he  expressed  what  he  him- 
self had  experienced;  and,  doubtless, 
he  had  learned  some  of  the  many  ways 
in  w’hich  the  Christian  may  be  vexed 
and  worried  by  those  who  hate  his 
Master — he  had  learned  that  those 
who  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus 
shall  suffer  persecution. 

After  some  pleasant  religious  con- 
versation I left  him,  hoping  shortly  to 
see  him  well  again ; but  that  was  not 
to  be.  For,  only  two  days  afterwards, 
word  was  brought  that  he  was  very 
low,  and  not  expected  to  recover.  I 
hastened  to  his  house,  but  the  surgeon 
was  unwilling  that  I should  be  ad- 
mitted. 

He  was  one  of  those  who  have  not 
learned  that  a patient  may  be  bene- 
fitted,  rather  than  injured,  by  appropri- 


46 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


ate  religious  conversation ; that  a Chris- 
tian, especially,  by  being  cheered  and 
encouraged  with  the  consolations  of 
religion,  will  even  be  more  likely  to  be 
benefitted  by  the  doctor  s prescriptions ; 
and  if  he  is  to  die,  his  d^dng  bed  will 
be  made  easier  by  hearing  of  Him  who 
makes  all  our  bed  in  our  sickness,  by 
hearing  of  the  everlasting  arms  which 
are  placed  underneath  God’s  people, 
and  by  being  permitted  to  follow  an- 
other in  prayer,  when  his  own  thoughts 
are  wandering,  and  his  body  and  mind 
too  weak  for  continuous  thought. 

All  the  day  was  I prevented  from 
seeing  this  friend ; all  the  day  was  his 
distressed  wife  alone  with  him,  and 
he  frequently  repeating  his  request  that 
I might  be  sent  for.  But  about  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon,  a message 
came  from  the  surgeon,  to  come  and 
see  the  captain,  but  “ to  be  short.” 


CAPTAIN  S- 


47 


I suppose,  that  though  nominally  a 
Protestant,  his  notion  of  a visit  to  the 
sick  was  not  much  different  from  that 
of  the  Roman  Catholics,  who  wish  the 
services  of  the  priest  onl}’’  at  the  point 
of  death,  to  administer  “extreme  unc- 
tion;” and,  very  likely,  some  physi- 
cians refuse  to  admit  a clergyman  to 
their  patients,  lest  it  might  convey  to 
them  the  impression  that  now  the  doc- 
tor has  given  them  up,  and,  therefore, 
the  clergyman  is  admitted,  and  next 
will  come  the  undertaker. 

Meeting  the  surgeon  in  an  outer- 
room,  I said,  “You  request  me  to  be 
short — about  how  long  a time  would  it 
he  proper  for  me  to  remain  with  your 
patient,  do  you  think  ?”  “ Oh — why — 
long  enough  to  say  whatever  form  you 
have,”  said  he. 

I found  our  friend  very  low,  hardly 


48 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


able  to  speak;  with  difficulty  he  could 
articulate  a few  words.  He  spake  of 
his  hope  as  an  anchor  to  his  soul — of  his 
peace  as  perfect : he  could  say,  I know 
in  whom  I have  believed : he  could 
leave  his  wife  and  children  in  the 
hands  of  a covenant-keeping  God. 
And,  said  he,  ‘‘  soon,  very  soon,  these 
pains  will  cease — this  distressing  thirst 
will  not  be  felt  long — soon,  oh,  soon  I 
shall  be  rich.  I trust  that  soon  I shall 
be  with  Jesus.” 

We  read  and  repeated  some  passages 
of  scripture ; then  bowed  in  prayer ; 
and  after  sitting  a few  moments  in  si- 
lence, I bade  him  farewell.  He  was 
just  on  the  verge  of  heaven,  and 
waited  here  but  a short  time  after  I 
left  him. 

I tarried  a few  moments  as  I with- 
drew, to  speak  with  the  surgeon.  He 


CAPTAIN  S- 


49 


seemed  greatly  moved — in  some  dis- 
tress ; for,  said  he,  “ this  is  the  first 
officer  I have  lost  by  disease  since  we 
left  India What  a creature ! thought 
I.  I had  no  commission  to  “speak 
comfortably”  to  people  in  that  kind  of 
i sorrow,  and  so  left  him;  but  in  my 
own  mind  contrasting  the  characters 
of  these  two  persons,  and  their  pro- 
! spects,  and  asking  what  had  made 
them  to  differ.  They  were  both  from 
a Christian  land — had  received,  in  many 
' respects,  the  same  education — had 
1 passed  through  much  the  same  scenes  ! 
but  what  had  proved  to  one  a savour 
of  life  unto  life,  might  to  the  other,  as 
was  to  be  feared,  prove  a savour  of  death 
unto  death. 

That,  as  you  may  suppose,  was  a 
sad  night  in  our  own  little  dwelling — 

we  two  alone — strangers,  and  amongst 
6 


50 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


people  of  another  tongue,  and  the  first 
friend  that  we  had  found,  so  soon  taken 
from  us.  Just  before  night  we  walked 
past  the  house  which  death  had  visited, 
and  where  were  the  fatherless  children, 
and  the  stricken  wife.  We  walked 
outside  the  city  into  a beautiful  valley, 
but  everything  seemed  hung  with 
mourning. 

On  the  following  day  was  the  fu- 
neral. The  widow  and  children  who 
could  not  endure  the  loneliness — the 
almost  speaking  loneliness  and  gloom 
of  their  house  now  left  unto  them  des- 
olate, came  to  tarry  awhile  with  us. 
Afterwards  we  exchanged  with  her, 
she  remaining  in  our  house,  and  we  re- 
moving to  hers. 

The  colonel  of  this  regiment  ap- 
peared to  be  a pious  man.  He  regu- 
larly attended  our  Sabbath  services, 


LIEUTENANT  E- 


51 


1 but  was  more  reserved  in  his  manners 
I than  the  captain.  We  were  beginning 
to  become  acquainted  with  him,  when 
his  regiment  was  relieved,  and  sent 
to  India,  and  another  sepoy  regiment 
sent  to  take  the  place  of  that  which 
had  been  removed. 

LIEUTENANT  E . 

This  was  a young  Irishman ; lively, 

I pleasant,  sociable,  and  a decided  Chris- 
tian ; and  not  a man  that  was  disposed 
to  deny  his  Master,  or  to  follow  him  at 
f a distance,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
energy  and  perseverance  with  ivhich 
he  laboured  for  the  cause  of  God  in 
such  methods  as  were  open  to  him. 
His  regiment  was  called  “ The  Royal 
Irish,”  and  it  used  to  seem  that  he 
meant  to  be  loyal  in  every  respect; 
while  he  served  his  queen,  he  would 


52 


SCENES  LN  CHUSAN. 


also  be  a good  subject,  and  a valiant 
soldier  of  the  King  of  Zion. 

His  scripture-reading,  and  Sabbath- 
keeping, and  frequenting  of  meetings, 
and  absenting  himself  from  the  games 
and  Sabbath-day  amusements  of  the 
other  officers,  brought  upon  him  many 
petty  persecutions.  Even  the  com- 
mander of  the  forces,  who,  in  the 
main,  was  kind  and  cordial,  and  where 
he  took  a liking,  a hearty  friend,  did 
not  encourage  the  religious  ones  as  he 
might  have  done.  Though  sometimes, 
on  a Monday  morning,  when  many  of 
the  men  appeared  in  a bad  plight,  or 
did  not  appear  at  all,  on  account  of  a 
too  free  use  of  liquor  obtained  while 
on  liberty  during  the  Sabbath,  with 
some  hard  epithets,  and  some  bad 
temper,  he  would  single  out  the  few 
religious  ones,  and  pointing  to  them 


LIEUTENANT  E- 


53 


■would  say,  with  an  oath,  “Look  ye, 
men ! look  to  these,  my  Methodist  peo- 
ple. I wish  you  were  all  Methodists, 
if  it  were  only  to  keep  you  from  get- 
ting drunk,  and  playing  the  fool  on 
Sundays.”  Rumour  had  it  that  he 
gathered  his  subaltern  officers  on  Sab- 
bath morning,  to  examine  them  in  the 
drill  book,  and  called  it  his  Catechism 
class.  One  day,  as  was  said,  he  en- 
tered the  quarters  of  lieutenant  E , 

and  seeing  the  Bible  and  drill-book  on 
the  table,  but  the  Bible  above,  he 
stepped  up  and  reversed  them,  putting 
the  Bible  below,  and  the  drill-book  at 
the  top,  saying,  “ That’s  the  order,  my 
boy.  That’s  the  order.” 

But  our  lieutenant  held  on  his  way, 
attending  all  religious  duties,  public 
and  private ; encouraging  the  pious 
soldiers  by  his  own  example,  and  with 
5* 


54 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


words  of  exhortation,  or  of  inquiry  as 
to  whether  their  souls  were  in  health  ! 
He  took  charge  of  a selection  of  reli- 
gious books  which  he  lent  to  one  and 
another,  and  recommended  to  such  as 
he  thought  needed,  or  might  be  bene- 
fitted  by  such  instruction,  or  such  warn- 
ings as  the  book  contained. 

How  much  good  he  was  doing  in  his 
quiet  way  cannot  be  estimated.  There 
was  the  influence  of  a godly  life,  acting 
as  an  encouragement  to  the  good,  and 
a restraint  to  the  wicked — the  effects 
of  any  warnings  or  counsels  he  may 
have  spoken — and  the  blessings  which 
may  have  been  obtained  in  answer  to 
his  prayers.  And  so  may  every  in- 
dividual be  doing  good  continually. 
How  much  better  to  be  exerting  a 
good  than  a bad  influence!  and  how 
much  better  to  be  up  and  doing  with 


LIEUTENANT  E- 


55 


our  might  what  our  hands  find  to  do, 
improving  our  talents  to  the  utmost, 
than  to  bury  our  talents,  or  live  the 
life  of  a drone  ! 

A military  life  may  seem  to  us  not 
quite  consistent  with  the  peaceful  mis- 
sion of  Christ,  and  the  precepts  of  his 
gospel;  yet  we  see  that  God  calls  his 
elect  from  nearly  all  grades  of  society, 
and  from  people  of  various  occupa- 
tions : and  this,  partly,  no  doubt,  for 
the  purpose  of  showing  us  that  in 
whatever  circumstances  we  may  find 
ourselves  placed,  in  the  providence  of 
God,  there  we  may  serve  God,  and 
that  many  temptations  and  hindrances 
are  no  excuse  for  not  living  a life  of 
holiness;  for,  by  the  examples  which 
we  have,  God  has  shown  to  us  that  he 
is  willing  to  give  strength  equal  to  our 
day.  We  noticed  that,  as  a general 


56 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


tiling,  the  disciples  of  Christ  in  the 
army  were  more  decided  and  active  in 
religious  duties,  and  seemed  to  have  a 
greater  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
righteousness,  than  the  same  propor- 
tion of  professing  Christians  not  so 
much  exposed  to  temptation.  Buffet- 
ting  the  storms,  and  experience  of  all 
kinds  of  dangers  at  sea,  make  the 
good  sailor;  and  experience  in  many 
wars  and  hardships  makes  the  soldier : 
and  yet  that  you  may  be  enabled  to 
endure  hardness  as  a good  soldier  of 
Jesus  Christ,  we  do  not  recommend  you 
to  resort  to  the  army  to  get  your  dis- 
cipline as  Christian  soldiers,  but  would 
advise  rather  not  to  expose  yourselves 
to  moral  contamination,  and  ever  pray 
“ Lead  us  not  into  temptation.”  But, 
wherever  we  may  be  we  should  have 
on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  stand  in  the  evil  day. 


LIEUTENANT  E' 


57 


We  noticed  also  that  the  greater 
portion  of  the  pious  persons  that  we 
met  in  the  army,  had  become  so  since 
their  connection  with  it.  This  may 
teach  us  that  God’s  ways  are  not  as 
our  ways. 

It  would  not  be  our  way  to  send  a 
young  man  into  the  army,  nor  to  place 
him  in  the  forecastle  of  a ship,  that  he 
might  there  find  the  way  of  life  ; but 
so,  as  it  seems,  God  sometimes  does, 
and  this  partly,  no  doubt,  that  he  may 
try  his  people’s  faith,  and  call  out  the 
more  earnest  prayers  of  parents  and 
friends. 

It  is  to  bring  them  to  feel  that  if 
those  wayward  ones  are  saved,  the 
Lord  alone  can  save  them ; and  thus 
they  are  brought  to  cast  themselves 
wholly  on  the  Lord.  Furthermore, 
these  considerations  admonish  the  am- 


58  SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 

bassador  of  Christ  that  wherever  he 
may  be,  still  he  should  remember  his 
commission,  and  be  watching  for  souls, 
for  in  what  may  seem  to  him  the  most 
unlikely  places,  there  yet  may  be 
some  of  those  who  are  God’s  chosen 
vessels  of  mercy. 

THE  CONTRAST. 

One  pleasant  peaceful  Sabbath  after- 
noon, having  just  closed  the  service  in 
the  upper  ward  of  the  hospital,  an  ar- 
tilleryman stepped  in  from  an  outer 
ward,  on  the  same  floor,  and  begged 
me  to  call  around  and  speak  with  one 
of  his  comrades,  who  was  near  dying. 
I had  heard  about  this  man  before;  the 
same  comrade  who  now  pointed  out  his 
bed,  had  previously  requested  me  to 
converse  with  him,  but  the  man  had 
always  avoided  me.  Often  had  he 


THE  CONTRAST. 


59 


been  alarmed  in  view  of  death,  and  the 
judgment : at  times,  his  distress  of 
mind  had  been  very  great.  But,  while 
suffering  thus  he  would  generally  re- 
sort to  strong  drink  to  drown  his  sor- 
rows, and  thus  he  would  grieve  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Once  or  twice  he  had 
attempted  suicide,  for  he  was  a misera- 
ble man ; and  more  miserable  after  his 
debauches,  than  before  them.  He  was 
frequently  on  the  sick  list ; often  in 
the  hospital  for  a little  while  at  a 
time  ; but  now  it  was  evident  he  was 
not  to  leave  it  again  till  carried  to  his 
narrow  house. 

I was  approaching  his  cot,  which 
was  in  the  farthest  end  of  the  ward. 
He  saw  me  coming,  and  beckoned  me 
away ; and  as  I drew  near  he  shut  his 
eyes.  I addressed  him  as  mildly  and 
tenderly  as  I was  able,  but  he  said, 


60 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


“ Sir,  I am  very  weak,  and  can’t  talk.” 
I answered,  “ Then  let  me  talk  to  you, 
or  read  a few  verses  from  the  Bible.” 
“ No,  sir,”  said  he,  “ I’m  very  sick.”  I 
begged  him  to  listen  to  a few  words 
which  Jesus  spake  to  those  who  were 
labouring  and  heavy  laden.  “ No,  sir,” 
said  he,  “not  now — to-morrow  — I 
need  sleep  now.”  “ My  friend,  I fear 
you  may  not  live  till  to-morrow,”  said 
I : “ I entreat  you  to  think  on  your 
condition  and  danger,  and  pray  to  God 
to  have  mercy  on  you.”  While  I was 
speaking  he  turned  himself  in  the  bed, 
to  get  away  from  me  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. 

After  waiting  a few  moments,  I 
walked  around  to  the  other  side  of  his 
cot,  and  began  repeating  some  of  the 
gospel  invitations.  “ It’s  too  late, 
sir,”  said  hej  “it’s  too  late,  it’s  of  no 


THE  CONTRAST. 


G1 


I said,  “ As  you  say,  you  are  indeed 
very  sick,  and  may  not  have  many 
hours  left  you,  in  which  to  prepare  for 
eternity;  and  you  know  that  those 
who  die  in  their  sins,  w^here  God  and 
Christ  is,  they  can  never  come.  But, 
if,  with  all  your  heart,  and  with  true 
sorrow  for  sin,  like  the  thief  on  the 
cross,  you  will  say,  ‘ Lord,  remember 
me,’  he  will  take  you  to  be  with  him 
in  paradise.”  ‘‘  It’s  too  late,”  he  re- 
peated, “and  I wish  to  be  quiet.”  I 
begged  him  not  to  speak  thus,  for 
while  there  is  life  we  may  hope  that 
there  is  mercy  for  us ; even  till  the 
eleventh  hour,  God  may  be  waiting  to 
be  gracious.  But  he  only  answered, 
and  with  some  appearance  of  peevish- 
ness, “ I had  rather  not  hear  anything 
more  about  any  of  these  things,”  and 
he  drew  the  bed-clothes  over  his  head. 

6 


62 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


It  was  hard  to  have  to  leave  him  in 
such  a state  of  mind — a soul  just  lin- 
gering a few  moments  here,  and  then 
to  try  the  realities  of  the  unseen 
world,  and  not  reconciled  to  God.  I 
asked  once  more,  if  I might  kneel  and 
pray  with  him ; but  he  gave  me  no 
answer.  I added  a few  more  words 
and  left  him.  He  must  have  been  ex- 
pecting to  die  soon — he  had  been  told 
that  he  might  not  see  the  morning:  but 
he  was  unconcerned.  There  seemed 
to  be  no  fear  of  hell,  or  desire  for  hea- 
ven. Yet  he  was  not  stupefied  with 
medicines,  nor  was  he  delirious  ; but 
he  was  in  a moral  stupor,  and  deter- 
mining to  remain  so  as  long  as  possi- 
ble. He  would  not  be  disturbed.  He 
might  be  just  on  the  point  of  falling 
into  the  lake  which  burneth  with  fire 
and  brimstone,  but  he  would  not  allow 


THE  CONTRAST. 


63 


himself  to  think  of  its  horrors,  nor  give 
himself  the  trouble  to  raise  one  cry  for 
mercy. 

The  Holy  Spirit  had  striven  with 
him  many  times,  but  he  had  grieved 
him,  and  now  he  seemed  to  be  given 
up  to  hal’d  ness  of  heart. 

When  the  Holy  Spirit  ceases  to 
strive  with  the  sinner,  it  is,  indeed, 
too  late ; for  what  hope  is  there  for 
those  concerning  whom  God  has  said, 
“ Let  them  alone?” 

But  in  the  middle  ward,  lay  another 
dying  man,  and  within  hearing  of  the 
man  with  whom  I had  been  convers- 
ing; for,  on  that  warm  summer  even- 
ing, all  the  doors  and  passages  were 
open  for  the  circulation  of  air.  This 
one  had  been  recently  brought  to  the 
hospital  from  the  transport  ship.  Du- 
ring the  fortnight  in  which  he  had  lain 


64 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


where  he  now  was,  I had  visited  him 
occasionally,  and  with  great  personal 
comfort  and  edification.  His  hope  was 
as  an  anchor  to  his  soul ; he  had  con- 
stant joy  and  peace.  Before  his  life 
was  despaired  of,  he  was  resigned  to 
the  will  of  God — willing  to  suffer,  yet 
desiring  to  recover,  if  it  might  please 
God  to  give  him  health  again  ; for,  hav- 
ing been  sometime  absent  from  his 
company  on  the  invalid  list,  he  had 
anticipated  much  pleasure  in  being 
again  permitted  to  enjoy  the  society  of 
his  Christian  associates.  His  Bible  and 
hymn  book,  and  a few  tracts,  were  al- 
ways on  his  table,  from  which  he  read, 
or  requested  another  to  read  to  him. 
He  seemed  not  to  think,  or  to  be  at  all 
troubled  with  the  thought,  that  religion 
might  be  unpopular  with  those  about 
him.  He  seemed  to  worship  God  with 


THE  CONTRAST. 


65 


as  little  restraint  as  if  he  had  been  in  a 
room  by  himself.  At  length  he  became 
aware  that  his  prospects  for  recovery 
were  diminishing,  and  then  all  his 
thoughts  were  going  out  toAvards  hea- 
ven ; his  soul  seemed  to  be  poising  its 
wings,  and  to  seem  almost  impatient  to 
be  gone  to  the  bright  world  of  bliss, 
lie  talked  of  heaven,  of  glory,  of  see- 
ing God,  of  being  with  Jesus.  He 
repeated,  and  sung,  and  often  without 
any  one  to  sing  Avith  him,  the  hymns 
which,  Avhile  in  health,  he  had  sung 
with  the  people  of  God.  The  pious 
soldiers  would,  in  turn,  obtain  permis- 
sion to  attend  him ; and  on  this  Sab- 
bath afternoon,  as  I Avas  about  leaving 
the  hospital,  there  were  several  gather- 
ing in  to  see  him ; and  he  at  once  en- 
gaged them  in  singing  around  his  bed 
his  favourite  hymns. 

6* 


66 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


And  what  an  effect  that  had  upon 
the  other  inmates  of  the  hospital ! 
Some,  indeed,  could  not  endure  to  re- 
main where  there  was  even  so  slight  a 
semblance  to  heaven  as  that,  but  stole 
away  and  left  the  house  : — how  much 
more  then,  would  heaven  be  disagree- 
able to  them  ! how  could  they  endure 
the  song  of  the  hundred  and  forty  and 
four  thousand  ? But  others  lay,  or  sat 
up  on  their  cots,  listening  as  if  in  won- 
der. Some  drew  near  while  the  hymn 
was  sung,  to  hear  the  dying  disci- 
ple speak  of  his  dear  Jesus,  and  tell 
of  his  charms ; and  to  look  in  his  face, 
lit  up  as  it  was,  with  the  hope  of  im- 
mortality, and  showing  that  his  soul 
was  already  revelling  in  spiritual  de- 
lights. 

When  the  singing  was  done,  one 
man  whispered  to  the  one  next  him. 


THE  CONTRAST. 


67 


“ That’s  a Christian — there’s  no  hypo- 
crisy there.”  Another  said,  “ I wish  I 
were  as  well  prepared  to  die.” 

The  next  morning,  pretty  early,  I 
visited  the  hospital,  and  met  the  apoth- 
ecary in  the  door,  who  said,  “We  had 
a casualty  last  night,”  which  was  his 
easy  way  of  saying  that  another  im- 
mortal spirit  had  fled — that  another  of 
our  fellow  men  had  gone  to  render  his 
account. 

The  poor  artilleryman  had  lingered 
till  nearly  morning.  Probably  he  de- 
parted out  of  this  life  in  the  state  of 
mind  in  which  I last  saw  him.  And, 
I think,  another  man  died  during  the 
night,  who  had  also  refused  to  hear 
anything  about  the  world  to  come. 
But  he  who  longed  to  depart,  and  be 
with  Christ,  waited  till  the  afternoon 
of  that  day  before  Jesus  came  to  re- 


68 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


ceive  him  to  himself,  to  be  with  him 
where  he  is,  and  to  behold  his  glory. 
To  the  last,  he  was  exhorting  his  bre- 
thren to  faithfulness,  and  warning  the 
unconverted,  and  assuring  them  that 
religion  was  not  a farce,  nor  the  Bible 
a cunningly  devised  fable;  and  show- 
ing in  his  own  appearance  that  his 
faith  was  the  substance  of  things  hoped 
for,  and  the  evidence  of  things  not 
seen. 

What  a contrast ! One,  while  in 
health,  had  neglected  to  secure  the  one 
thing  needful.  On  his  dying  bed  he 
was  weak,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  was  not 
with  him,  either  to  help  his  infirmities, 
or  to  comfort  him,  or  to  break  his  hard 
heart.  We  fear  he  died  without  the  one 
thing  needful,  and  went  to  the  judg- 
ment without  it,  is  without  it  yet,  and 
SO  will  be  for  ever. 


THE  DYING  SAILOR. 


69 


The  other  was  wise  betimes,  and 
chose  that  good  part,  and  in  the  hour 
of  trial  it  was  not  taken  from  him ; in 
his  weakness  he  was  enabled  to  retain 
it ; amid  the  temptations  and  terrors 
of  dissolving  nature,  when  flesh  and 
heart  fail,  still  he  held  fast  to  his  good 
part,  and  carried  it  with  him  when 
borne  by  angels  through  the  skies. 
Still,  in  heaven  he  has  that  good  part, 
and  never,  never — not  to  all  eternity, 
shall  it  be  taken  away  from  him. 

Reader,  would  you  die  the  death  of 
the  righteous  ? Then  must  you  live 
the  life  of  the  righteous. 

THE  DYING  SAILOR. 

One  bright  morning  of  spring,  the 
hospital  sergeant  called  to  say  that  a 
sailor  at  the  hospital  was  anxious  to  see 
a clergyman.  Very  soon  I started  to 


70 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


visit  him,  walking  through  the  busy, 
noisy  streets  of  the  city ; crowding  my 
way  through  the  dense  masses  of 
people  who  were  labouring  for  the 
meat  which  perisheth,  and  many  of 
whom  would  need  to  exert  themselves 
to  the  utmost  to  gather  enough  to 
satisfy  the  demands  of  hunger  for  the 
day,  and  feed  others  that  were  de- 
pendent on  them.  I was  going  to  see 
a man  who  was  beginning  to  feel  the 
vanity  of  all  earthly  things,  and  to 
think  of  the  preparation  to  be  made  for 
leaving  the  world.  When  outside  the 
city,  I turned  olf  from  the  thronged 
street  to  reach  the  hospital,  by  a wind- 
ing path  through  the  fields.  Here  was 
a field  of  rice,  there  a field  of  barley; 
here  a patch  of  garden  vegetables,  and 
there  a field  in  yellow  blossoms.  All 
here  was  peaceful,  the  air  fragrant,  the 


THE  DYING  SAILOR. 


71 


birds  happy,  but  I was  still  think- 
ing of  the  poor  sailor  with  half  the 
circumference  of  the  globe  between 
him  and  his  native  land,  without  loving 
friends  to  smooth  his  dying  pillow, 
without  a familiar  face  to  look  upon 
him;  with  only  paid  officials,  and  ser- 
vants whose  hearts  had  long  since 
grown  callous — with  only  these  to  look 
upon  him  in  their  round  of  duty. 

This  sick  sailor  had  been  removed 
from  a passing  ship  to  another  sta- 
tioned in  the  harbour;  and  by  permis- 
sion had  been  again  removed  to  the 
hospital.  He  seemed  aware  that  he 
had  not  long  to  live,  and  was  anxious 
to  get  ready  to  leave  the  world.  His 
parents,  he  stated,  were  “ members  of 
the  church;”  and  he  spoke  of  them 
with  some  emotion — said  they  had  well 
instructed  him  in  his  youth;  he  had 


72 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


been  “christened  and  confirmed,”  and 
had  tried  to  live  correctly  in  the  main. 
Indeed  he  seemed  to  be  trusting  too 
much,  as  I thought,  to  his  baptism, 
and  confirmation,  and  moral  life;  and 
therefore  I spoke  of  the  insufficiency 
of  our  own  righteousness,  that  it  cannot 
come  into  the  account  at  all — of  the 
corruption  of  our  nature ; of  our  need  of 
Christ’s  righteousness ; of  the  new  birth ; 
of  repentance  and  faith.  He  did  not 
seem  inclined  to  talk,  and  I could 
hardly  learn  what  was  his  state  of 
mind,  or  how  much  knowledge  he  pos- 
sessed of  the  plan  of  salvation ; but  I 
feared  it  might  not  be  very  clear.  I 
looked  upon  him  stretched  upon  his 
couch,  and  thought  of  him  as  nigh 
unto  death,  and  perhaps,  without  the 
one  thing  needful,  and  I endeavoured 
to  bring  him  to  see  his  state,  that  he 
might  be  aroused  to  earnest  prayer. 


THE  DYING  SAHOK. 


73 


He  was  reminded  of  the  judgment, 
and  that  he  would  need  an  Advocate 
there — of  the  marriage  supper,  and 
that  there  he  would  need  the  wedding 
garment.  But  these  subjects  did  not 
seem  to  interest  him  as  I had  hoped 
they  would.  It  may  be  that  the 
truths  presented  were  undermining 
some  old  hope,  and  disturbing  a false 
peace.  He  listened,  however,  but  said 
little.  He  looked  like  one  disap- 
pointed; as  though  the  minister  was 
not  doing  for  him  what  he  expected. 
He  could  not  say  that  he  felt  prepared 
to  die ; nor  did  he  appear  willing  to 
set  about  that  preparation.  He  was 
told  of  the  necessity  of  immediate  re- 
pentance, of  earnest  prayer  for  the 
forgiveness  of  our  sins,  and  that  we 
must  look  only  unto  Jesus,  crying. 
Lord,  save,  or  I perish.  After  prayer, 


74 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


and  having  remained  with  him  as  long 
as  seemed  profitable,  I bade  him  good 
morning,  hoping  to  see  him  again  on 
the  following  day.  But  death  was 
nearer  than  I supposed.  I was  not  to 
see  him  again  till  we  meet  at  the  judg- 
ment : I,  to  answer  for  my  faithfulness ; 
he,  to  answer  for  the  use  he  made  of 
the  knowledge  he  had  of  the  way  of  life, 
for  the  exhortations  he  heard,  and  for 
the  space  given  him  in  which  to  set 
his  house  in  order. 

The  next  day  we  committed  the  dust 
to  its  dust  again.  Perhaps  it  was  well 
with  him,  but  I feared  not;  and  I was 
led  to  reflect.  How  many  are  building 
on  the  sand ! How  many  there  are 
who  are  unwilling  to  be  disturbed  in 
their  carnal  security  ! Even  on  their 
death  beds,  how  many  still  hug  a de- 
lusion! they  endeavour  to  suppress 


THE  DYING  SAILOR. 


75 


anxious  thought,  and  are  pleased  with 
others  only  as  they  cry  Peace,  peace, 
though  there  be  no  peace  for  them. 
This  disposition  is  particularly  mani- 
fest amongst  the  Roman  Catholics.  The 
priests  have  told  them  that  they  are 
safe,  and  they  will  believe  it.  Having 
confessed  and  received  absolution,  they 
are  unwilling  to  be  again  disturbed 
with  any  doubts  whatever.  It  is  not, 
however,  the  priest’s  words  altogether 
that  have  quieted  them,  but  the  delu- 
sive influence  of  the  devil,  and  their 
preference  for  any  system  of  religion 
that  wiU  afford  them  indulgence  in 
their  mental  sluggishness,  and  moral 
stupidity.  There  is  reason  to  believe 
that  some  who  have  been  Protestants 
in  understanding,  and  have  really  no 
confidence  in  the  priests,  neverthe- 
less, will  on  their  death-beds  receive 


76 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


what  are  termed  the  Consolations  of  the 
Church  ; they  welcome  any  one  that 
will  sew  pillows  to  the  arm  holes — 
that  will  indulge  them  in  their  false 
hopes.  And  just  so  the  heathen. 
They  trust  in  lies,  and  are  impatient 
when  attempts  are  made  to  drive  them 
from  those  refuges.  They  had  rather 
go  to  the  place  of  the  dead  as  they 
are,  though  they  acknowledge  that 
to  them  the  future  is  all  uncertainty, 
with  much  of  fearful  looking  for  of 
judgment ; they  had  rather  launch  into 
eternity  blindfold,  than  have  any  more 
doubts  started  in  their  minds. 

Surely  madness  is  in  the  hearts  of 
such  men  while  they  live.  A few 
days  of  sleeping  and  slumbering  are 
bought  with  a surprise  at  death,  and 
an  eternity  of  self-reproaches  and  an- 


THE  SOLITARY  BURIAL. 


77 


THE  SOLITARY  BURIAL. 

It  was  during  one  of  those  seasons, 
when,  as  we  found  in  that  latitude, 
and  that  position  near  the  sea,  the 
clouds  are  wont  to  pour  out  their  con- 
tents for  days  together,  that  I walked 
just  before  night  down  to  the  harbour, 
and  ran  into  the  office  of  a mercantile 
house,  on  an  errand,  which  I executed 
hastily,  and  turned  to  hurry  home  be- 
fore dark,  and  before  the  night  sentinel 
should  be  placed  at  the  city  gates ; for 
I had  no  lantern,  nor  did  I know  the 
countersign. 

The  proprietor  of  the  establishment 
was  not  at  home;  there  was  only  a 
clerk  in  the  house,  and  he,  though 
from  the  land  of  John  Knox,  from  the 
land  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  Bible,  yet 
was  as  hardened  and  profane  a crea- 


i 


78 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


ture,  as  is  often  to  be  met  amongst 
those  who  still  wish  to  be  ranked  with 
decent  people.  He  had  spent  some 
years  in  Mexico,  some  elsewhere,  re- 
ceiving occasional  remittances  from  an 
uncle  at  home,  who  had  been  appointed 
his  guardian.  He  drank  champagne 
when  he  could  get  it;  if  that  could  not 
be  had,  then  something  else — anything 
but  water.  He  seldom  spoke  without 
an  accompanying  oath,  and  his  pro- 
fanity was  shocking. 

Just  as  I was  at  the  top  of  the 
stairs,  to  go  down,  he  mentioned  that  a 
sick  sailor  had  been  sent  ashore  from 
an  American  ship,  and  was  lodged  in 
that  house.  I did  not  understand  that 
‘ he  was  considered  immediately  danger- 
ous. I had  no  time  to  spare,  if  I would 
get  back  into  the  city  that  night ; and 
my  wife  was  there  alone.  I promised 


“ Sow  let  s go  aud  say  ati  oration  ov-r  him,  and  put 
liiin  to  rest. 


THE  SOLITARY  BURIAL. 


79 


myself  that  I would  call  the  next  morn- 
ing and  see  this  sick  sailor.  But 
early  the  next  morning  I received  a 
note,  stating  that  the  sailor  was  dead, 
and  desiring  me  to  “ please  come  and 
bury  him.”  All  the  night  it  had 
rained,  and  it  was  raining  yet,  and  the 
clouds  were  low  and  black.  When  I 
arrived  the  body  was  already  nailed 
up  in  a rough  box,  and  six  half-dressed 
coolies  — Chinese  labourers  — were 
standing  by,  waiting  to  carry  it  away, 
and  put  it  into  the  hole  they  had  been 
digging.  The  young  Scotchman — 
young  in  years,  but  old  in  transgres- 
sion— was  there,  smoking  his  cigar. 
“And  now,”  says  he,  “let’s  go  and 
say  an  oration  over  him,  and  put  him 
to  rest.” 

To  me,  that  was  a dismal  funeral, 
though,  besides  the  black  clouds  hang- 


80 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


ing  like  funeral  drapery,  there  was  lit- 
tle that  was  befitting  a burial ; but  to 
me  it  was  solemn.  Oh,  that  I had 
taken  time  last  evening  to  see  this 
man  ! thought  I.  During  that  rainy, 
dreary  night,  and  probably  alone,  he 
had  died.  Who  was  he  ? Who  were 
his  friends  ? Do  father  and  mother, 
brother  or  sister,  survive  to  wish  and 
wonder  if  the  wanderer  will  ever  come 
home  ? 

Did  he  know  that  he  was  so  near 
his  end  ? and  how  did  he  meet  the 
king  of  terrors  ? Had  he  hope  ? Was 
Jesus  with  him?  Was  he  ministered 
unto  by  the  angels  of  the  Lord  that 
encamp  round  about  them  that  fear 
him,  to  deliver  them?  Did  heaven 
open  to  his  dying  eyes,  that,  like  Ste- 
phen, he  might  see  the  glory  of  God, 
and  Jesus  standing  on  the  right  hand 


THE  YOUNa  ARTILLERYMAJr.  81 

of  God?  and  so,  did  he  peacefully  fall 
asleep,  to  sleep  in  Jesus  till  the  morn- 
ing of  the  resurrection  ? Or,  were  his 
prospects  for  the  future  as  dark  as  was 
that  dark  night,  in  which  his  soul  was 
made  to  quit  its  house  of  clay  ? 

Let  these  occuiTences  teach  me,  said 
I,  never  to  lose  an  opportunity  which 
offers  of  speaking  a word  in  season; 
for  this  opportunity  neglected,  another 
may  not  be  afforded. 

THE  YOUNG  ARTILLERYMAN. 

Once,  having  been  visiting  the  sick, 
and  while  passing  through  the  hospital- 
yard  to  go  home,  a young  man  of  gen- 
teel manners,  in  the  invalids’  cap  and 
gown,  saluted  me  by  touching  his  cap, 
and  said,  “I  have  been  waiting  here  to 
speak  with  you,  sir,  and  if  you  please,  I 
would  beg  the  favour  of  a njoment’s 
conversation.” 


82 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


He  then  spoke  very  briefly  of  the 
kind  of  life  he  had  led — of  his  enlist- 
ment, of  his  life  in  the  army,  of  his 
conviction  of  sin,  his  long-continued 
seeking  and  his  hope  at  length,  of  his 
willingness,  as  he  thought,  to  forsake 
all  and  follow  Christ,  and  especially 
of  his  desire  now  to  profess  Christ  be- 
fore the  world.  Whatever  cross  there 
might  be  for  him  to  bear,  he  was  ready 
to  take  it  up. 

Learning  what  I could  of  his  state 
of  mind  during  that  brief  interview,  I 
requested  him,  as  soon  as  convenient, 
to  call  upon  me,  which  he  did,  within 
a few  days;  and  in  the  mean  time,  I 
had  opportunity  of  learning  more  about 
him,  through  some  of  those  who  wit- 
nessed his  daily  life  in  the  garrison. 

He  entertained  some  hope  that  he 
had  experienced  a change  of  heart; 


THE  YOUNG  ARTILLERYMAN.  83 

yet  of  this  he  dared  not  be  too  confi- 
dent. To  be  born  again  was  a great 
thing,  and  often,  when  thinking  of  it, 
it  seemed  to  him  that  a person  in  whom 
this  work  had  been  wrought,  must  ex- 
perience a greater  change  in  his  feel- 
ings, and  exhibit  a more  perfect  refor- 
mation in  his  life  than  was  to  be  found 
in  his  case.  But  he  could  say  that  he 
felt  differently  of  late,  from  anything 
he  had  felt  in  former  times.  He  had 
now  no  relish  for  former  amusements. 
His  old  associates  were  not  now  conge- 
nial companions.  Now,  he  preferred 
the  society  of  the  people  of  God.  He 
loved  to  read  the  Bible,  and  it  did  him 
good  to  think  it  was  God’s  own  word ; 
he  found  pleasure  in  meetings  for  reli- 
gious worship.  Secret  prayer  he  es- 
teemed a privilege,  and  in  it  he  felt 
that  he  drew  near  to  God.  He  was 


84 


SCENES  IN  CHIJSAN. 


willing,  yea,  he  (iesired,  as  he  thought, 
to  take  up  every  cross,  and  engage  in 
every  duty  which  Christ  requires  of 
his  disciples.  He  had,  for  some  time, 
been  wishing  for  an  opportunity  to 
make  a public  profession  of  his  faith  ; 
and  if  I was  willing,  he  would  regard 
it  a great  privilege  could  he  receive 
baptism,  and  unite  with  those  who  are 
permitted  to  remember  their  Lord  in 
the  breaking  of  bread. 

After  this,  I saw  him  frequently : 
he  embraced  opportunities  for  conver- 
sing on  religious  subjects ; he  was 
never  absent  from  the  meetings  except 
necessarily  detained  : he  was  an!  eager 
student  of  the  scriptures ; he  searched 
them,  aided  by  a reference  Bible,  which 
w^as  furnished  him,  and  which  he 
highly  prized. 

After  a number  of  weeks,  being 
pleased  with  his  humility,  and  hoping 


THE  YOUNG  ARTILLERYMAN.  85 

that  he  had  learned  of  Jesus,  who  is 
meek  and  lowly  in  heart,  1 could  not 
longer  refuse  water  that  he  should  be 
baptized  ; and  so,  at  the  communion 
season,  which  we  observed  once  in  two 
months  at  our  house  in  the  city,  on  the 
Sabbath  afternoon,  on  confession  of  his 
faith  he  was  baptized,  and  took  his 
seat  with  a few  who,  in  an  upper 
chamber  receiA^ed  the  bread  and  the 
wine,  dedicating  themselves  aneAv  to 
Christ,  and  seeking  an  increase  of  spi- 
ritual strength  in  which  to  go  on  again 
for  many  days. 

Those  communion  seasons  we  wdll 
never  forget.  A holy  quiet  reigned 
where  we  were  assembled,  and  each 
one  seemed  to  feel, 

“ How  sweet  and  awful  is  the  place, 

With  Christ  within  the  doors, 

While  everlasting  love  displays 
The  choicest  of  her  stores !” 


8 


86 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Those  services  were  solemn,  but 
they  were  simple.  In  the  very  room 
where  we  sat  every  day — with  a little 
table  spread  with  a simple  white  cover 
— the  wine  and  the  bread — a few  com- 
municants in  red  coats,  a few  in  blue, 
and  in  buff,  a few  in  citizen’s  dress,  a 
few  women,  now  and  then  a fellow 
missionary,  or  an  invalid  brother  or 
sister,  occasionally  a stranger,  whose 
home  and  whose  altar  were  half  around 
the  globe  from  us — a passage  of  scrip- 
ture read — a hymn — a few  words  spo- 
ken— the  elements  distributed  by  the 
minister.  People  of  different  denomi- 
nations sat  at  that  communion  table  : 
Presbyterians,  Episcopalians,  Baptists, 
Methodists,  and  people  from  different 
countries. 

Oh,  if  there  are  any  of  my  days 
that  may  come  again,  may  they  be 


THE  YOUNG  ARTILLERYMAN.  87 

like  those!  It  was  to  sit  in  the  han- 
quetting  house  with  Christ’s  banner 
over  us.  We  communed  with  him. 
He  came  in  and  supped  with  us,  and 
we  with  him. 

Let  me  say  a few  words  more  re- 
specting that  young  man.  According 
to  his  own  account,  which  I gathered 
from  him  from  time  to  time,  he  was  the 
son  of  a merchant  in  London,  was 
trusted  with  more  pocket  money  than 
was  needful,  was  more  in  the  streets 
than  was  for  his  good  ; his  dislike  for 
school  increased,  and  he  played  the 
truant  frequently ; he  was  sometimes  re- 
proved and  punished,  but,  for  the  most 
part,  was  entrusted  to  teachers  and 
governors,  his  own  father  having  too 
much  business  on  his  hands  to  look 
very  carefully  into  the  conduct  of  his 
own  son.  To  get  him  away  from  the 


88 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


dissipation  of  London,  he  was  sent  to 
France,  in  the  care  of  some  relatives, 
who  had  gone  there  to  reside,  because 
their  income  was  insufficient  to  support 
them  in  England,  in  the  style  to  which 
they  had  been  accustomed,  and  they 
were  too  proud  to  take  a lower  grade 
in  society.  Here  he  was  still  sent  to 
school,  and  became  an  elegant  French 
scholar.  At  length,  he  was  recalled, 
and  put  as  a clerk  in  his  father’s  store ; 
but  being  neither  so  diligent  nor  faith- 
ful in  business  as  he  ought,  he  received 
reproof  from  his  father,  which,  like  a 
spoiled  child,  he  resisted,  and,  in  fool- 
ish and  wicked  anger  he  threatened  to 
enlist.  At  first,  he  applied  to  the 
Horse  Guards ; but  had  not  interest 
enough  to  procure  him  a berth  there. 
Then,  being  met  by  a recruiting  officer 
for  the  East  India  company,  who  flat- 


THE  YOUNG  ARTILLERYMAN.  89 


tered  him  for  his  fine  form  and  military 
bearing,  and  assured  him  that  young 
men  with  talents  and  education,  were 
promoted  rapidly  in  India;  he  drank 
in  the  compliments,  and  enlisted,  and 
fancied  himself  on  the  road  to  fame 
and  wealth.  But  he  was  transported 
to  India  like  an}’’  common  recruit,  and 
was  a private  yet. 

In  the  cantonment,  and  in  the  tented 
field,  this  young  man  had  time  for  re- 
flection which  he  had  not  had  before, 
or  rather,  which  had  not  before  been 
so  well  improved.  The  daily  lessons 
in  the  life  of  a soldier — the  lessons  of 
God’s  providence  which  only  harden 
the  many,  and  prove  to  them  a savour 
of  death  unto  death,  did,  in  this  case, 
prove  to  be  the  means,  or  one  of  the 
means,  by  which  the  heart  was  to  be 
made  soft. 

8* 


90 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Diseases  rapidly  thinned  their  ranks 
upon  their  first  arrival  in  Chusan, 
during  the  rainy  season,  when  they 
were  without  barracks,  and  much  ex- 
posed in  their  tents,  and  the  earth, 
on  which  they  slept,  was  saturated 
with  water.  Their  provisions  were 
unwholesome,  and  their  numbers  were 
diminished,  not  so  much  by  the  ene- 
mies’ bullets,  as  by  fevers  and  dysen- 
tery. It  was  not  uncommon  for  the 
officer  of  the  night,  on  going  his  round 
to  relieve  the  guard,  to  find  that  the  king 
of  terrors  had  gone  the  round  before  him 
and  called  away  the  sentinel,  without  sta- 
tioning another  in  his  place.  In  those 
days,  the  formalities  of  funerals  were 
dispensed  with,  and  it  was  customary 
to  detail  little  squads  of  men  to  go 
around  and  bury  the  dead ; which  they 
did  by  stripping  off  their  belts,  and 


THE  YOUNG  ARTILLERYMAN.  91 

interring  them  without  a coffin,  on 
that  hill  within  the  city  of  Tinghae, 
which  became  well  nigh  covered  with 
lowly  graves,  which  had  no  headstone, 
nor  anything  to  mark  the  spot  as  trea- 
suring the  dust  of  a fellow  being.  In 
the  burying-ground,  which  was  after- 
wards used,  on  the  side  of  the  hill 
W'hich  was  crowned  with  the  fort  that 
guarded  the  harbour,  where  many 
monuments  were  erected,  was  one 
placed  there  by  surviving  comrades,  to 
the  memory  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates, 
of  one  regiment,  who  fell  by  the  casu- 
alties of  war  and  disease.  Those  were 
of  a different  regiment  from  that  to 
which  our  young  friend  belonged  ; but 
they  were  gathered  to  the  generation 
of  the  dead  during  the  same  days  as 
those  in  which  his  own  messmates  were 


92 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


felling  around  him,  like  leaves  in  au- 
tumn, Whenever  he  alluded  to  those 
scenes,  a soldier  though  he  was,  the 
tears  would  run  down  his  cheeks. 

This  perhaps  was  the  school  which 
God  designed  he  should  pass  through 
that  he  might  learn  how  brittle  is  the 
thread  of  hfe,  how  uncertain  and  how 
unsatisfactory  are  worldly  honours,  and 
what  folly  it  is  for  a being  capable  of 
enjoying  immortal  life  and  glory  to 
live  for  nothing,  and  perish  like  the 
brutes. 

Now  he  seemed  anxious  to  be  living 
for  a better  purpose.  He  searched  the 
scriptures  daily,  and  spent  much  of 
his  leisure  time  in  profitable  reading. 
He  appeared  to  grow  in  grace,  and  to 
have  an  increasing  desire  to  be  more 
widely  useful.  There  was  evidence 
that  he  was  faithful  in  improving  his 
opportunities  for  benefitting  others. 


REGENERATION — REFORMATION.  93 


REGENERATION  MORE  THAN  REFORMATION.* 

S , the  young  man  of  whom  w'e 

have  been  speaking,  had  a companion 
whose  history  had  been  somewhat  like 
his  own.  lie  was  a person  of  good 
manners,  and  some  education.  Through 
the  influence  of  S , he  was  in- 

duced to  attend  the  meetings.  He 
had  broken  off  his  drinking  habits,  and 
now  professed  penitence,  hoped  he 
was  reformed,  and  gave  such  an  ac- 
count of  his  feelings,  hopes,  and  determi- 
nations as  looked  somewhat  as  though 
he  might  be  a renewed  man ; and  he 
wished  to  be  admitted  to  -the  ordi- 
nances, and  take  upon  himself  the  vows 
of  God. 

This  request  was  kindly  entertained, 
but  he  was  advised  to  wait  and  test 
his  experience  somewhat  further.  For 


94 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


a few  weeks  he  held  out  well;  was 
regular  at  the  religious  services,  and 
attentive  and  serious  when  present, 
and  outward  1}^,  so  far  as  I could  see  or 
learn  from  others,  his  conduct  was  un- 
exceptionable. But  by  and  by,  having 
come  in  possession  of  a small  sum  of 
money  which  he  had  earned  by  wri- 
ting— for  he  was  an  excellent  penman 
— temptation  and  appetite  for  drink 
again  proved  stronger  than  his  resolu- 
tions ; his  feet  were  in  a slippery  place 
and  he  fell. 

I shall  not  be  likely  soon  to  forget 
the  pain  I felt  one  Sabbath  afternoon 
soon  after  he  had  suffered  strong 
drink  to  overcome  him.  I was  going 
to  the  chapel,  and  he  was  hurrying  to 
some  of  those  haunts  of  the  drunkard 
where  liquor  was  sold  by  the  Chinese. 
The  moment  he  caught  a glimpse  of 


REGENERATION — REFORMATION.  95 

me,  he  shot  down  a narrow  filthy  alley, 
ashamed  to  be  seen.  That  evening  we 
were  expecting  again  to  meet  for  com- 
munion one  with  another,  and  with 
Christ  our  Head,  and  to  remember 
him  in  the  breaking  of  bread ; and 
this  young  man,  had  he  continued  to 
appear  as  well  as  he  did  at  first,  and 
had  he  still  desired  to  profess  Christ, 
would  undoubtedly  have  been  with 
us ; but  it  had  already  happened  unto 
him  according  to  the  true  proverb, 
“The  dog  has  turned  to  his  own 
vomit  again  ; and  the  sow  that  was 
washed  to  her  wallowing  in  the  mire.” 
Another  of  the  stony  ground  hear- 
ers, thought  I : he  heard  the  word,  and 
anon  with  joy  he  seemed  to  receive  it 
— he  heard  gladly,  and  did  many 
things  ; but  having  no  root  in  himself, 
he  endured  but  for  a time. 


96 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Poor  fellow ! How  I pitied  him ! 
I pitied  him,  as  still  in  the  gall  of  bit- 
terness, and  bond  of  iniquity ; for  in 
such  case  I feared  he  still  was.  I pi- 
tied him,  as  still  led  captiA^e  by  Satan. 
I pitied  him,  as  still  a slave  to  his  lusts. 
I pitied  him,  because  of  the  weakness 
of  his  resolution,  and  that  Satan  and 
his  appetite  should  find  him  so  easy  a 
prey. 

I remembered  how  he  had  appeared 
to  enjoy  the  few  months  in  which  he 
had  abstained  from  intoxicating  drink, 
and  what  pleasure  he  seemed  to  find  in 
the  hope  that  he  might  continue  to  be 
a man,  and  never  again  become  a sot ; 
and  seeing  how  those  hopes  were 
dashed,  well  might  I pity  him. 

How  sad  his  case  ! Thinking  of  him 
only  as  a human  being,  hoAV  sad  his 
case  ! He  had  mental  abilities  and 


REGENERATION REFORMATION.  97 

education  that  would  have  adorned  a 
nobler  place  than  his,  who  has  to  be 
marched,  and  countermarched,  halted 
and  wheeled,  and  marched  again,  at  the 
sound  of  fife  and  drum.  But,  al- 
though he  was  a soldier,  he  might  still 
have  remained  a man ; yes,  and  even 
have  become  a brother  of  the  Son  of 
God,  had  he  resisted  temptation,  and 
had  he  hearkened  to  Him  who  says. 
Wash  you  : make  you  clean ; put 
away  the  evil  of  your  doings  from  be- 
fore mine  eyes;  cease  to  do  evil; 
learn  to  do  well.”  “ Come  now,  and 
let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord : 
though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  as  white  as  snow;  though  they 
be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool.” 

This  young  man  did  not  forget  the 
few  days  of  sunshine,  which  he  en- 
9 


98 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


joyed  while  he  was  trying  to  live  like 
a rational  being ; and  he  remembered 
us,  and  still  expressed  thankfulness  for 
the  kindness  that  had  been  shown  him, 
and  for  the  encouragement  he  had  re- 
ceived ; but  shame  kept  him  from  our 
house,  and  his  friends  could  not  prevail 
on  him  to  abandon  again  his  drinking 
habits. 

That  was  another  chapter  of  reli- 
gious experience  for  me  to  study  in  the 
beginning  of  my  ministerial  life. 
Though  I did  not  expect  ever  to  be 
able  to  know  the  heart — not  even  my 
own,  and  much  less  that  of  another, 
for  the  heart  is  deceitful  above  all 
things — though  I did  not  expect  ever 
to  be  able  to  know  certainly,  whether 
any  person  professing  to  be  converted 
is  a genuine  believer  or  not;  yet  it 
strengthened  the  conviction  that  the 


KEGENERATION — REFORMATION.  99 

candidate  for  church  privileges  should 
not  be  received  too  hastily,  but  that 
time  should  be  afforded  for  knowing 
the  tree  by  its  fruit.  It  gave  me  oc- 
casion to  reflect  on  the  insecurity  of 
any  one  who  is  exposed  to  temptation, 
and  has  not  grace  sufficient  for  him ; 
and  cannot,  or  does  not,  see  his  need 
to  pray  to  God,  “ Cast  me  not  away 
from  thy  presence ; and  take  not  thy 
Holy  Spirit  from  me.”  “ Keep  back 
thy  servant  also  from  presumptuous 
sins ; let  them  not  have  dominion  over 
me.”  It  caused  me  to  be  more  dis- 
trustful of  mere  reformations,  and  to 
be  less  sanguine,  in  regard  to  any  per- 
son reported  as  reformed,  until  there 
be  some  evidence  that  the  heart  is  re- 
newed, and  that  God  is  working  in 
him  to  will,  and  to  do  of  his  good 
pleasure. 


100 


SCENES  LN  CHUSAN. 


Where  there  is  regeneration,  there 
will  be  a reformation ; but  there  are 
many  partial  reformations  without  a 
regeneration. 

His  company  was  detained  a few 
months  at  Hong  Kong,  and  while  there 
S , in  a letter,  speaks  of  his  com- 
rade to  this  elFect : “ My  friend  J 

has,  for  some  time,  been  entirel}'’  sober, 
and  is  hoping  and,  he  says,  praying 
also,  that  he  may  reform  altogether. 
But  I dare  not  be  sanguine,  for  temp- 
tations are  numerous,  and  that  appetite 
for  strong  drink  is  the  hardest  thing  to 
be  conquered.” 

SAMSHU,  AND  WHAT  IT  DID. 

Speaking  of  the  mischief  wrought 
by  strong  drink,  reminds  me  of  an- 
other painful  case,  that  of  private 
W . For  a number  of  months,  he 


SAMSHU,  AND  WHAT  IT  DID.  101 

was  as  regular  and  attentive  at  all  the 
meetings  as  any  man  that  came.  Not 
a lisp  had  1 ever  heard  that  anything 
was  wrong  as  to  his  habits,  although  I 
knew  that  in  one  corner  of  the  canton- 
ment was  a large  building  which  went 
by  the  appellation  of  the  Canteen, 
where  English  ale,  and  London  porter 
were  dealt  out,  and  where  were  always 
many  loungers,  drinking  and  smoking, 
and  fighting  their  old  battles  over 
again.  And  I knew  that  almost  any- 
where, around  the  cantonments,  in  the 
city  and  in  the  country,  were  plenty 
of  the  Chinese  prepared  to  furnish  the 
soldier  with  Samshu,  which  \vas  an  in- 
toxicating drink,  manufactured  from 
rice.  In  our  walks,  it  was  no  uncom- 
mon thing  to  meet  with  drunken  sol- 
diers ; and  the  Sabbath,  being  a day 
in  which  the  men  had  greater  liberty 


102 


SCENES  IN  CHDSAN. 


than  on  other  days,  was  signalized  as 
a time  of  more  general  drunkenness 
and  rioting.  But  who  had  ever 

dreamed  of  private  W being 

found  in  such  transgression  ? Yet,  un- 
looked for  as  it  might  be,  one  evening, 
just  as  the  prayer  meeting  was  dis- 
missed, and  the  people  were  about 

leaving,  corporal  P drew  near,  and 

said  in  a low  and  mournful  voice,  It’s 

a sad  thing,  sir,  but  W has  took 

to  drink.”  And  then  all  was  still 
again.  I seem  even  now  to  see  that 
little  band  of  men,  standing  with  caps 
in  hand,  all  gloomy  and  anxious,  as 
you  may  imagine  a company  of  peo- 
ple who  have  just  received  some  alarm- 
ing or  afflictive  intelligence,  and  have 
met  to  consult ; each  waiting  for  an- 
other to  propose  some  measure,  but  no 
one  having  courage  to  break  the  pain- 
ful stillness. 


SAMSHU,  AND  WHAT  IT  DID.  103 

Then  was  illustrated  that  scripture, 
‘‘Whether  one  member  suffer,  all  the 
members  suffer  with  it.”  They  w^ere 
sorry  for  what  had  occurred ; and  it 
was  evident  that  they  were  desirous 
of  doing  what  the  scriptures  enjoin 
where  they  say,  “Brethren,  if  a man 
be  overtaken  in  a fault,  ye  which  are 
spiritual,  restore  such  a one  in  the  spirit 
of  meekness;  considering  thyself,  lest 
thou  also  be  tempted.  Bear  ye  one 
another’s  burdens,  and  so  fulfil  the 
law  of  Christ.” 

The  advice  given  them  was,  to  treat 
the  erring  brother  kindly,  and  endea- 
vour to  recover  him ; especially  to  pray 
for  him,  and  use  every  effort  to  draw 
him  away  from  the  haunts  of  vice,  and 
places  of  temptation. 

But  poor  W seemed  deter- 

mined, like  one  who  had  quite  lost 


104 


SCENES  IN  CHDSAN. 


caste,  to  throw  himself  away.  The 
next  Sabbath  day  1 saw  him  standing 
in  the  way  with  sinners,  playing  at 
ball ; though  he  was  careful  to  keep  his 
face  turned  away  from  me.  His  wife, 
who  was  a kind-hearted  and  simple- 
minded,  but  devotedly  pious  woman, 
was  thrown  into  great  distress  by  this 
folly  and  wickedness  in  her  husband, 
and  entreated  all  to  pray  for  him. 

Immediately  subsequent  to  this  oc- 
currence, there  were  commenced  some 
more  energetic  efforts  in  behalf  of 
temperance,  or  total  abstinence.  A 
pledge  was  prepared,  and  the  soldiers 
circulated  it,  and  obtained  a few  signa- 
tures. Books,  papers,  and  tracts  on 
the  subject  were  gathered,  and  put  in 
circulation,  and  some  good  doubtless 
was  accomplished. 

W made  his  wife  and  his  bre- 


SAMSHU,  AND  WHAT  IT  DID.  105 

thren  happy  by  signing  the  pledge,  and 
making  confession  of  his  fault.  But  it 
was  not  long  till  he  fell  the  second 
time.  And  again  he  reformed. 
When  he  left  the  island  wdth  his  regi- 
ment he  was  sober,  and  apparently 
penitent,  and  declared  that  “he’d  not 
drink  any  more”  ever. 

I hardly  knew  w^hat  to  think  of  him. 
When  I remembered  his  irreproachable 
behaviour  for  a number  of  months,  the 
enjoyment  which  he  appeared  to  find 
in  religious  duties,  I hoped  in  regard 
to  him.  When  I thought  of  the  ease 
with  which  he  relapsed  into  sin  after 
his  reformations,  I doubted ; and  still  I 
doubted  when  I saw  his  repentance 
lighter  than  I would  be  glad  to  see, 
and  too  little  remorse  and  self  loathing 
— too  little  of  the  shame,  and  confes- 
sion, and  self-abasement,  and  desire 


106 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


for  forgweness,  for  cleansing,  for  a new 
heart,  and  for  reconciliation  with  God 
such  as  David  expressed  in  the  51st 
psalm.  But  again  I desired  to  be  cha- 
ritable, for  in  this  world  all  of  us  are 
compassed  with  infirmity — sanctified 
but  in  part.  God’s  long  suffering  is 
great — there  is  forgiveness  with  him. 
Peter  was  forgiven.  David  was  for- 
given; but  their  confession  was  full — 
their  sorrow  was  heart-rending — their 
prayer  for  forgiveness  earnest  and 
humble. 

Did  I intimate  that  I would  give  an 
account  of  Samshu — a full  history  of 
it,  and  what  it  did?  That  is  more  than 
I would  undertake;  and  the  record 
would  be  too  long,  and  the  pages  would 
be  too  dark.  It  would  be  a narration 
of  family  quarrels,  and  street  brawls  ; 


SAMSHU,  AND  WHAT  IT  DID.  107 

of  one  person  beaten  to  death  by  his 
friend,  when  merry  with  wine,  and 
that  friend  paying  the  penalty  for  it, 
when  sober.  The  intoxicating  drinks, 
which  the  heathen  make,  do  precisely 
what  is  done  by  the  liquors  which  are 
manufactured  in  Christian  countries. 

Those  who  tarry  long  at  either,  will 
have  wo,  sorrow,  contentions,  babbling, 
wounds  without  cause,  redness  of 
eyes. 

It  filled  the  guard  houses  at  Chusan. 
It  undoubtedly  sent  to  the  hospital 
more  than  the  diseases  of  the  country 
would  have  done,  unaided  by  intem- 
perate habits  in  the  victims. 

It  doubtless  gave  more  to  him  who 
rides  on  the  pale  horse,  than  both  w^ar 
and  pestilence.  It  was  Satan’s  pre- 
scription to  convicted  sinners,  to  help 
them  to  forget  their  fears,  to  drown 


108 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


conviction,  and  say  to  the  Spirit, 
“ Go  thy  way  for  this  time and  it 
passed  his  victims  over  to  him  into  the 
pit  more  rapidly.  It  led  to  self- 
murders  ; and  of  one  such  case  let  me 
speak. 


THE  SUICIDE. 

There  was  a certain  bridge  over 
■which  I never  passed  without  being 
reminded  of  a tragical  scene  which  it 
once  witnessed. 

The  bridge  was  of  stone,  arching 
over  the  water,  with  sculptured  lions 
rampant  at  each  end,  and  on  either 
side.  It  had  been  a “ bridge  of  sighs.” 
Once,  in  the  forenoon  of  a bright  sum- 
mer day,  a soldier  was  seen  sitting  on 
this  bridge,  the  arch  of  which  was 
high  over  the  canal,  whose  deep  chan- 
nel it  spanned.  That  soldier  was 


THE  SUICrDE. 


109 


known  to  be  in  a gloomy  state  of  mind, 
for  strong  drink  had  long  been  his 
task-master  and  tormentor,  till  it  had 
quite  debased  and  dispirited  him. 

Often  had  he  been  lodged  in  the 
guard-house ; often  had  he  been  sub- 
jected to  extra  drills,  and  made  to 
march  up  and  down,  exposed  to  the 
gaze  of  all;  and  sometimes  under  a 
broiling  sun,  in  the  full  dress  of  win- 
ter, with  knapsack,  and  all  the  burden 
which  a soldier  ever  has  to  carry  on  an 
expedition:  and  sometimes,  severer 
punishment  had  been  inflicted  till  he 
had  grown  tired  of  life ; and  so  weary 
of  the  ills  he  was  suffering,  he  resolved 
to  “fly  to  others  which  he  knew  not  of.” 

Thus,  on  that  day,  and  in  sight  of 
his  comrades,  who  were  basking  in  the 
sun  on  the  wall  of  the  fort,  on  the  hill, 
he  plunged  headlong  into  the  water,  and 
10 


110  SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 

ended  his  earthly  existence ; hastening, 
as  it  were,  uncalled  into  the  presence 
of  his  Judge. 

THE  mDNIGHT  AFFRIGHT. 

Samshu  caused  us  missionaries  an 
alarm  in  the  middle  of  a summer 
night.  The  entire  household  was 
startled  from  sleep  by  a great  hue-and- 
cry  in  the  streets,  and  the  thoughtless 
Chinese  servants  ran,  and  unbarred  the 
great  black  two-leaved  wooden  gates, 
in  order  to  peep  out,  just  to  see  what 
was  going  on  ; when  in  rushed  a stal- 
wart English  officer,  with  a drawn 
sword  glittering  in  the  moonlight,  and 
throwing  himself  into  gladiatorial  atti- 
tudes, and  threatening  the  trembling 
Chinese,  that  he  would  hew  them  all  to 
pieces  unless  they  delivered  up  the 
person  that  had  stolen  his  cap ; for,  in 


THE  MIDNIGHT  AFFRIGHT.  Ill 

the  house  where  he  had  been  drinking 
and  rioting,  he  had  lost  this  article  of 
his  dress,  and  should  this  be  carried 
up  to  head  quarters  the  next  day,  and 
the  officer’s  head  not  in  it,  an  account 
of  his  evening’s  adventures  might  be 
called  for,  which  he  might  prefer  not 
to  have  published.  Our  Chinese  ser- 
vants, teacher,  and  pupils  were  sorely 
affrighted ; but  one  of  them  had  suffi- 
cient presence  of  mind,  and  knew 
enough  English  words,  to  tell  the  offi- 
cer that  a foreigner  lived  in  that  house. 
Whereupon,  the  gentleman  with  an 
epaulet  on  each  shoulder,  looking  up, 
saw  a man  at  the  window,  in  his  night 
clothes,  but  was  too  drunk  to  know 
whether  he  was  near  the  quarters  of 
his  commanding  officer,  or  only  in  the 
premises  of  a poor  missionary,  yet  not 
so  drunk  as  to  forget  about  court-mar- 


112 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


tials,  and  disgrace.  His  sword  slipped 
into  its  scabbard.  His  voice  died 
away,  and  he  vanished. 

WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 

Private  B was  a man  who 

asked  more  of  my  attention,  and  yet 
was  probably  less  pleased  with  my 
services,  than  any  other,  with  whom  I 
had  to  do.  He  was  a veteran — a vet- 
eran in  many  respects.  He  had  seen 
service  in  different  parts  of  the  world, 
and  had  gone  through  much  hard 
drinking;  and  still  he  survived.  Not- 
withstanding all  the  bullets  of  all  the 
enemies  he  had  faced,  and  all  the  vices 
of  the  camp — the  vices  of  civilized  na- 
tions, intensified  by  whatever  of  wick- 
edness might  be  learned  amongst  the 
heathen,  still  he  was  alive.  But  so 
much  hard  service  was  beginning  to 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


113 


tell  upon  him.  He  might  have  been 
fifty  years  of  age ; was  tall,  had  been 
a powerful,  broad-shouldered,  fierce, 
fear-nought  fellow  ; such  as  command- 
ers count  upon  either  for  bold  strokes, 
or  for  pertinacious  resistance.  Now, 
however,  he  was  well  nigh  worn  out. 

Being  taken  suddenly  and  severely 
ill,  he  wished  the  “parson”  to  be 
called.  When  I came  I found  him  on 
a cot  in  the  middle  of  the  lower  ward 
of  the  hospital,  which  he  occupied  otf 
and  on,  from  that  time,  for  many 
months,  till  at  length  he  was  carried 
out  to  come  back  no  more. 

He  welcomed  me  with  many  thanks 
for  my  condescension  and  kindness  in 
coming  so  far  to  see  him,  a poor  pri- 
vate, and  seemed  to  speak  and  act  as 
though  he  was  expecting  the  visit  it- 
self was  to  do  him  some  undefinable 
10* 


114 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


good.  He  evidently  was  expecting  to 
hear  the  “ service  for  the  sick,”  or 
something  like  it,  from  a clergyman ; 
and  was  putting  himself  into  a passive 
attitude,  as  though  the  parson  might  be 
able  to  apply  some  unction  to  the 
soul,  something  as  his  surgeon  would 
to  the  body ; and  he  was  not  prepared  for, 
nor  did  he  seem  altogether  to  under- 
stand my  conversation,  nor  quite  to 
relish  what  he  did  understand. 

1 tried  to  feel  about  the  heart,  but 
could  not  discover  any  soreness  there  ; 
nor  scarcely  any  sensitiveness.  It  was 
very  hard.  As  well  as  I knew  how,  I 
tried  the  probe,  but  the  instrument — 
the  sword  of  the  Spirit — either  did  not 
reach  to  the  quick,  or  touched  only 
upon  what  was  indurated,  or  else  a 
mass  of  corruption ; for  the  patient 
never  winced — there  were  no  apparent 
twinges  of  conscience. 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


115 


I talked  of  God,  as  a holy  being, 
hating  every  sin,  displeased  with  the 
least  stain  of  moral  impurity  ; of  his 
law  as  reaching  to  the  thoughts  and 
intents  of  the  heart ; of  the  necessity 
therefore  of  regeneration,  for  only  the 
pure  in  heart  shall  see  God.  I spoke 
of  sin  as  being  in  itself  vile  and  loath- 
some, and  therefore  we  should  abhor 
it,  and  desire  to  be  freed  from  it,  and 
pray,  “ Take  away  all  iniquity — cleanse 
me  from  my  sin — create  in  me  a clean 
heart.”  1 went  on  to  say  that,  being 
enemies  to  God,  we  should  seek  a re- 
conciliation through  our  Mediator,  and 
so  be  at  peace.  Having  offended  our 
Maker,  and  shown  him  great  contempt, 
in  innumerable  ways,  we  ought  to  re- 
pent of  these,  and  all  transgressions 
and  disobedience,  and  with  grief  and 
hatred  of  sin,  turn  from  it  unto  God. 


116 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Having  a long  catalogue  of  sins  regis- 
tered against  us,  and  a load  of  guilt 
resting  on  us,  and  having  no  means  of 
atoning  for  the  one,  or  removing  the 
other,  we  need  a deliverer,  one  to  bear 
our  sins,  and  be  our  surety  ; and  such 
an  one  is  provided  in  the  person  of  Je- 
sus Christ : but  we  must  accept  him  as 
our  Saviour,  must  trust  in  him  as  our 
sacrifice.  We  need  to  have  our  sins 
removed  from  us  as  far  as  the  east  is 
from  the  west ; then  must  we  look  to 
Christ  to  bear  them  away,  and  we  must 
make  full  confession  of  them,  with  bro- 
kenness of  heart. 

Again,  those  who  would  be  approved 
— fully  justified,  must  have  a perfect 
righteousness ; and  as,  of  ourselves, 
we  have  no  righteousness  whatever — 
as  the  good  works  of  the  best  men  are 
only  as  filthy  rags,  we  need  something 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


117 


infinitely  better  than  anything  we  can 
do,  for  no  person  can  be  justified  on 
account  of  his  own  righteousness;  we 
need  the  perfect  righteousness  of 
Christ,  and  this  we  may  have,  it  may 
he  imputed  to  us,  may  be  accounted  as 
ours,  we  may  have  it  as  a robe  to 
cover  us  ; and  we  must  have,  if  we 
would  be  admitted  to  heaven,  for  it  is 
the  wedding  garment,  without  which, 
none  can  be  admitted  to  the  marriage- 
supper  of  the  Lamb ; the  righteous- 
ness of  Christ  is  the  garment  of  the 
saints,  the  pure  linen,  clean  and  white, 
in  which  they  are  clothed.  Moreover, 
every  impenitent  sinner  is  like  the  pro- 
digal, and  he  must  come  to  himself, 
must  see  how  foolishly  and  wickedly  he 
has  been  acting,  and  must  be  sensible 
how  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor, 
and  blind,  and  naked  he  is  ; he  must 


118 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


see  his  rags,  and  feel  some  hunger  for 
the  bread  of  life,  and  must  say,  “ I 
will  arise,  and  go  to  my  Father.” 

Yes,  the  sinner  must  turn  unto  God, 
confessing  all  his  sins,  and  imploring 
forgiveness.  Now,  my  friend,  will  you 
do  this  ? Do  you  understand  these 
truths  ? Do  you  see  God  as  holy,  and 
yourself  a sinner,  and  have  you  any 
fear  of  God,  as  one  who  is  angry  with 
the  wicked  every  day,  and  as  able  to 
destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell  ? 
Do  you  believe  that  Jesus  is  the  only 
Saviour  of  sinners ; the  only  Mediator 
between  God  and  man  ? 

Such  truths  I endeavoured  to  hold 
up  before  him  ; and  such  questions  I 
frequently  put  to  him;  but,  without 
eliciting  any  satisfictory  answer.  At 
length,  he  said,  “ But  I am  in  the 
church,  sir.  I am  in  the  church.  I 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


119 


was  christened  and  confirmed.  I have 
many  times  taken  the  sacrament.” 

Well,  if  you  are  in  the  church,  said 
I,  do  you  live  the  life  of  a consistent 
church  member  ? That  is  the  impor- 
tant consideration.  All  who  come  to 
Christ  must  take  up  the  cross  and  fol- 
low him  ; and  must  learn  of  him  who 
was  meek  and  lowly  in  heart.  Have 
you  invariably  been  striving  to  do 
this  ? Do  you  perform  all  the  duties 
which  even  your  prayer  book,  of  which 
you  speak,  requires  of  you  ? Do  you 
endeavour  to  lead  a godly  life  ? 

“Oh,  but,  your  reverence  !”  said  he, 
“ there  should  be  allowances  made  for 
a person  in  my  situation  ; it  is  so  hard 
leading  a godly  life  in  the  barracks, 
and  in  the  camp.” 

It  may  be  difficult,  I answered,  but 
there  have  been  godly  soldiers,  there 


120 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


are  such  now ; and,  in  whatever  cir- 
cumstances we  may  be,  it  is  for  us  to 
keep  a conscience  void  of  offence  be- 
fore God  and  man. 

“ But,  sir,”  he  replied,  “ perhaps 
your  reverence  is  not  aware  how  very 
wicked  the  people  are,  and  how  very 
difficult  it  is  to  do  everything  just 
right  in  such  a place  as  this.  I think 
allowances  should  be  made  for  a sol- 
dier.” 

Do  you  attend  to  secret  prayer  ? I 
asked. 

‘‘  Secret  prayer,  sir  !”  said  he;  “se- 
cret prayer ! How  could  a person  in 
the  barracks  have  secret  prayer  ? 
Why,  sir,  let  a man  kneel  down  by 
his  cot,  and  all  the  boots  in  the  garri- 
son would  come  whizzing  at  his  head  ; 
and  such  oaths  and  curses,  sir !” 

Have  you  often  tried  it  ? I asked. 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


121 


“Well — no — I can’t  say  that  lhave, 
sir.” 

There  are  other  places,  I said — some 
quiet  spots,  that  one  can  find  if  he  is 
really  disposed  to  pray  to  his  Father 
who  seeth  in  secret,  but  who  rewards 
openly.  Other  people  find  time  and 
opportunity  for  private  devotion.  Do 
you  find  such  places  ? 

“ I can’t  say  that  1 do,”  he  an- 
swered. “ Sometimes  I think  consider- 
ably about  it,  but  some  mess-mate 
calls  me  away,  or  the  bugle  calls  to 
duty,  or  something  else  prevents,  and 
so  I don’t  think  of  it  again  for  some 
time  to  come.” 

Are  you  fond  of  reading  your  Bi- 
ble ? I inquired. 

“ Oh,  yes,  sir,”  he  answered,  “ I al- 
ways liked  to  hear  the  scriptures,  and 
would  your  reverence  please  just  to 
11 


122 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


read  them  now,  I think  it  would  do  me 
good.” 

It  is  well  to  hear  the  scriptures  read, 
I replied,  but  we  must  not  forget  that 
we  must  so  hear,  that  our  souls  may 
live.  We  must  be  careful  not  to  be 
satisfied  with  being  mere  hearers  of  the 
word,  we  must  be  doers  also.  My 
Catechism  says,  ‘‘That  the  word  of 
God  may  become  effectual  to  salva- 
tion, we  must  attend  thereunto  with 
diligence,  preparation,  and  prayer  ; re- 
ceive it  with  faith  and  love,  lay  it  up 
in  our  hearts,  and  practise  it  in  our 
lives.” 

“Yes,  sir,”  he  answered,  “that’s 
true.  I have  always  heard  that;  I 
would  like  to  hear  you  read  now.” 

I perceived,  from  the  first,  that  he 
was  depending  upon  externals — the 
church  service — the  prayer  of  a minis- 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


123 


ter — hearing  the  scriptures — anything, 
indeed,  so  that  it  was  religion — an 
outward  observance  of  some  religious 
duty — anything  to  pacify  his  con- 
science. In  fine,  he  desired  something 
that  would  operate  precisely  like  the 
going  to  mass,  and  to  confession,  with 
the  Roman  Catholics.  So  I thought, 
and  therefore  did  not  immediately 
gratify  his  wishes  by  reading;  though 
I usually  found  the  simple  reading  of  • 
God’s  own  word,  with  a few  brief  com- 
ments and  applications,  better  than 
anything  I could  say  besides.  I 
turned  again  to  the  subject  of  the  new 
birth,  and  he  as  pertinaciously  came 
back  to  his  old  refuge.  “He  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  church.  His  pa- 
rents were  church  people ; and  he  had 
taken  the  sacrament.” 

Do  you  like  the  services  of  the 


124 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


sanctuary  ? said  I.  Do  you  find  en- 
joj^ment  in  religious  meetings  ? 

“ Oh,  yes,  to  be  sure!”  he  said;  “ I 
generally  go  to  church,  when  I am 
where  there  is  a church.” 

I don’t  recollect  having  noticed  you 
at  the  chapel,  and  the  prayer  meet- 
ings. 

“ But,  sir,”  he  replied,  ‘‘we  have  the 
service  read  every  Sunday  for  the  sol- 
diers, and  1 always  attend  that.” 

Yes,  said  I,  and  whether  you  like  it 
or  not,  you  would  be  obliged  to  attend 
either  the  Protestant  or  Catholic  cha- 
pel ; but  would  you  think  that  a person 
who  was  hungering  and  thirsting  after 
righteousness,  would  be  quite  satisfied 
with  just  the  reading  of  the  prayers, 
and  the  lessons,  and  nothing  more,  and 
that  but  once  a week  ? 

“ I don’t  think  I knew  about  those 
meetings  you  speak  of,”  he  said. 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


125 


I answered,  Any  of  those  who  at- 
tend would  have  been  glad  to  have 
shown  you. 

“ Yes,  sir,”  he  answered,  “ but  a 
man  naturally  falls  in  with  his  own 
mess-mates.” 

Perhaps,  said  I.  But  will  not  the 
children  of  God  find  each  other,  and 
get  together  ? will  they  not  love  to 
talk  together  about  heaven,  and  tell  of 
their  joys  and  sorrows,  and  watch  over 
each  other?  There  are,  as  you  have 
said,  many  temptations  in  the  army, 
and  therefore,  so  much  more  need  is 
there  for  those  who  are  endeavouring 
to  be  soldiers  of  Christ  to  march  to- 
gether, and  to  encourage  and  assist 
one  another,  so  that  they  may  stand  in 
the  evil  day. 

After  this  manner  we  passed  some 
time  together,  but  I failed  to  get  a par- 


126 


SCENES  IN  CHDSAN. 


tide  of  evidence  that  he  cared  for  any- 
thing but  a form.  He  was  religious  in 
his  way,  he  was  devout ; very  likely 
he  would  have  given  the  responses 
heartily.  He  was  very  much  like  the 
heathen  who  often  are  quite  uneasy 
tiU  they  have  performed  certain  reli- 
gious ceremonies,  but  after  that  is  ac- 
complished feel  easy  and  pretty  safe. 

Private  B was  desirous  of  saying, 

or  having  said  over  him,  some  religious 
formula,  he  did  not  seem  particular  as 
to  what  kind  it  should  be.  Let  it  be 
any  external  religious  ceremony,  he 
could  pillow  his  conscience  on  it ; and, 
as  results  showed,  he  would  be  content 
to  die  on  it.  With  the  least  show  of 
a form  of  godliness,  and  knowing  that 
his  life  had  been  grossly  wicked,  he 
was  willing  to  try  the  dread  realities 
of  eternity. 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


127 


I read  a few  verses  of  the  Bible — 
offered  a short  prayer — added  a few 
more  words  of  exhortation,  and  rose 
to  leave.  Notwithstanding  my  plain- 
ness, he  was  ready  to  overwhelm  me 
with  thanks,  and  earnestly  begged  me 
to  call  again. 

After  this  I saw  him  frequently, 
and  endeavoured  to  be  faithful  with 
him,  and  the  preaching  on  the  Sabbath 
in  the  hospital  was  sometimes  in  the 
ward  in  which  he  lay. 

By  and  by  he  began  to  recover,  and 
in  the  same  degree  that  he  improved 
in  health  he  seemed  to  care  less  for  my 
company. 

He  had  at  times  alluded  to  his  for- 
mer indulgences,  his  habits  of  drink- 
ing, and  had  excused  some  of  his 
delinquencies  on  this  ground ; but  had 
always  accused  the  naughty  liquor,  or 


128 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


laid  the  greatest  share  of  blame  on 
those  who  bantered  him  to  drink.  He 
had,  however,  solemnly  declared,  and 
that  over  and  over  again,  that  should 
he  get  up  from  that  sickness,  he  would 
be  more  regular  in  his  habits,  and  not 
touch  intoxicating  liquor  at  all. 

When  he  was  about  ready  to  be 
dismissed  from  the  hospital,  I re- 
minded him  of  his  pledge  to  leave 
strong  drink  alone,  and  begged  him  not 
to  forget  his  promise  to  attend  the  re- 
ligious meetings.  “ Oh,  sir,”  said  he, 
“ you  may  trust  me  for  that.” 

He  was  discharged  from  the  hospi- 
tal ; but,  as  I greatly  feared,  he  kept 
clear  of  the  chapel,  and  I saw  nothing 
of  him  till  another  request  came  to 
visit  him  in  the  hospital. 

With  his  shattered  constitution,  and 
not  thoroughly  recovered  from  his  for- 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


129 


mer  sickness,  his  sudden  excess,  and  a 
hot  summer’s  sun  soon  prostrated  him 
again.  Though  more  dangerously  ill 
than  before,  yet  he  was  somewhat  less 
alarmed  ; but  still  he  was  anxious  to 
see  a clergyman,  for  this  idea  yet  re- 
mained with  him  as  to  what  was  ne- 
cessary towards  putting  his  house  in 
order,  viz  : that  he  have  the  visit  of  a 
clergyman. 

Again  I laboured  to  show  him  that 
he  was  a sinner,  that  God  is  angry 
with  the  wicked  every  day,  that  he 
must  be  born  again,  and  to  point  him 
to  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world.  But  his  heart 
was  not  opened  to  receive  the  truth; 
he  was  not  convinced  of  sin,  of  right- 
eousness, and  of  a judgment  to  come; 
the  god  of  this  world  was  still  blinding 
his  mind,  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious 


130  SCENES  LN  CHUSAN. 

gospel  of  Christ  should  shine  into  his 
heart.  He  retreated  within  his  old 
refuge  of  lies : he  insisted  that  he  was 
born  in  the  church ; brought  up  in  the 
church;  had  been  christened,  and  con- 
firmed, and  had  taken  the  sacrament. 

“We  have  Abraham  to  our  father,” 
said  some  in  old  times. 

Once  more  God  in  his  great  mercy 
was  pleased  to  raise  him  up,  but  he  at 
once  forgot  the  Lord’s  mercies,  and 
cast  off  fear,  and  restrained  prayer. 
Like  the  swine  he  turned  to  his  wal- 
lowing; he  herded  with  his  own  kind; 
showing  by  the  company  he  kept,  and 
the  pleasures  he  sought,  who  must  be 
his  companions  for  ever,  unless  an 
entirely  new  heart  were  created  within 
him. 

Though  frequent  inquiries  were 
made  respecting  him,  and  though  the 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


131 


pious  soldiers  were  requested  to  watch 
for  opportunities  of  doing  him  good, 
yet  he  kept  out  of  my  way  as  far  as 
possible,  until,  on  a Sabbath  evening, 
having  preached  in  the  upper  ward  of 
the  hospital,  I came  down  and  was 
passing  through  the  lower  ward,  and 
was  arrested  by  a feeble  voice,  “ Please 
your  reverence!  I am  glad  to  see 
your  reverence.  I was  fearing  you 
would  not  pass  this  way.”  I went  to 
him,  and  immediately  he  said,  “And, 
please  sir,  could  I receive  the  sacra- 
ment? I am  afraid  this  is  to  be  the 
last  of  me  here.  I am  very  weak 
now.  I would  like,  sir,  to  take  the 
sacrament.  It  seems  as  if  I shall  not 
get  up  again.” 

Again  an  attempt  was  made  to  con- 
vince him  that  the  sacraments,  though 
means  of  grace,  and  very  precious 


132 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN, 


ordinances  to  the  believer,  yet  of 
themselves  could  not  save  a sinner, 
and  could  not  wash  away  one  sin  ; and 
that,  moreover,  none  are  welcome 
guests  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  but 
those  who  are  his  friends,  and  that 
there  is  danger  in  partaking  unwor- 
thily, for  those  who  do  so,  not  having 
knowledge  to  discern  the  Lord’s  body, 
nor  faith  to  feed  upon  him,  eat  and 
drink  judgment  to  themselves. 

Poor  man ! how  I felt  for  him,  and 
endeavoured  to  pray  that  his  mind 
might  be  enlightened  in  the  knowledge 
of  Christ,  his  will  renewed,  and  he 
persuaded  and  enabled  to  embrace 
Jesus  Christ,  freelj^  offered  to  us  in 
the  gospel.  But  the  arm  of  the  Lord 
was  not  revealed,  and  he  did  not  receive 
my  report.  He  was  sinking  into  the 
grave j he  saw  death  approaching;  he 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


133 


expected  soon  to  launch  out  into  the 
ocean  of  eternity,  and  still  he  was 
trusting  to  his  spider’s  w'eb : and  the 
nearer  death  approached,  the  more 
eagerly  he  clutched  it,  the  more  in- 
tently he  gazed  at  it;  he  would  not  suffer 
his  mind  to  be  directed  to  that  hope 
which  is  an  anchor  to  the  soul.  A 
drowning  man  convulsively  catches  at 
a straw;  so  he  at  the  hypocrite’s  hope. 

“Will  you  please  to  administer  the 
sacrament  to  me  ?”  he  again  asked 
eagerly,  turning  his  sunken  eyes  im- 
ploringly upon  me. 

This  seemed  the  one  desire  of  his 
heart.  The  sincere  penitent  on  a sick 
and  dying  bed,  who  has  not  before  had 
an  opportunity  of  confessing  Christ 
before  the  world,  and  of  sitting  at  his 
table,  may  very  properly  be  admitted 
to  this  ordinance,  if  it  is  desired,  and 
12 


134 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


from  the  right  motives;  but  in  this 
case  there  seemed  to  be  nothing  differ- 
ent from  the  Roman  Catholic’s  desire 
for  absolution,  and  extreme  unction; 
therefore  no  encouragement  was  given 
that  the  sacrament  could  be  adminis- 
tered to  him,  but  he  was  exhorted  to 
think  on  what  the  scriptures  teach, 
that  many  who  call  Jesus  Lord,  and 
sit  at  his  table,  will  hear  him  say  at  last, 
“I  never  knew  you,  depart  from  me, 
ye  that  work  iniquity.”  But  whoso- 
ever is  born  again — every  friend  of 
the  bridegroom — every  one  that  has 
the  garments  of  holiness — shall  as- 
suredly eat  and  drink  with  Christ  in 
his  kingdom  of  glory,  whether  they 
have  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  remem- 
bering him  in  the  breaking  of  bread  on 
earth  or  not.  But  still  he  entreated, 
“ Oh,  sir,  I think  I might  take  the  sac- 


WEDDED  TO  FORMS. 


135 


rament  now.  I am  sorry  for  all  my 
past  sins.  I would  like  to  repeat  the 
service  after  you.  It  is  quiet  here 
just  now,  sir;  or,  if  you  please,  I 
could  be  removed  to  the  ‘Orderly’s’ 
room. 

What  a distressing  case ! A man 
pleading  for  the  sacrament,  as  he 
ought  to  he  pleading  for  pardon  through 
the  blood  of  Christ — rejecting  Jesus  as 
his  Saviour,  refusing  the  offers  of  his 
salvation,  and  yet,  asking  for  the  bread 
and  the  wine,  as  though  these  could 
save  him — a drowning  man  rejecting 
the  hand  of  one  who  offers  to  save  him, 
and  trusting  to  the  mere  shadow  of 
that  deliverer  ! So,  the  Jews  still 
trusted  to  the  lambs,  which  they  of- 
fered, to  take  away  their  sins,  and  cru- 
cified Him  whom  those  lambs  were  only 
intended  to  typify.  This  man,  while 


136 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


neglecting  the  great  salvation,  would 
be  content  with  merely  this  favour — 
if  only  in  this  formal  manner,  by  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  he  might  be  re- 
cognized as  one  worthy  to  be  enrolled 
amongst  the  people  of  God. 

Yet  another  week  he  lingered  on  the 
shores  of  time,  his  spirit  seeming  to 
cling  desperately  to  its  clay  tenement, 
and  he  lived  till  another  Sabbath  to 
renew  the  same  request,  but  not,  it 
was  to  be  feared,  to  give  any  better 
evidence  of  repentance,  love,  and  new 
obedience,  with  “knowledge  to  discern 
the  Lord’s  body,  and  faith  to  feed  upon 
him.” 

How  much  harm  may  be  done  by 
receiving  a person  too  hastily  to  the 
sealing  ordinances  of  the  church,  if, 
thereby,  he  is  encouraged  to  sup- 
pose that,  in  our  judgment,  he  is 
a worthy  partaker  ! 


THE  sergeant’s  FAMILY.  137 

How  difficult  to  bring  a person  to 
abandon  an  old  hope,  how  poor  soever 
that  hope  may  be  ! 

How  utterly  insufficient  is  a religion 
of  mere  forms,  and  how  many  souls  are 
ruined,  by  being  suffered  to  flatter 
themselves,  that  a decent  observance 
of  forms  is  all  the  religion  that  is  re- 
quired ! 

THE  sergeant’s  FAJIILY. 

The  wife  seemed  a good,  pious  wo- 
man, and  carefull}'-  trained  her  two 
little  daughters,  so  far  as  she  knew 
how,  or  had  time,  and  was  very  grate- 
ful for  any  good  instruction  given 
them  by  others ; and  it  was  surprising 
how  prettily  they  behaved  for  children 
that  were  born  in  the  army,  and  had 
lived  nowhere  but  amongst  soldiers. 
They  were  taught  their  Catechism, 
12* 


138 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


and  hymns,  and  verses  from  the  scrip- 
tures, and  to  say  the  creed  and 
prayers.  But  their  mother  was  a fee- 
ble woman.  Frequent  voyages,  changes 
of  climate,  much  work,  and  constant 
care  were  wearing  her  out,  and,  after 
awhile,  she  became  unable  to  sit  up, 
and  lingered  a patient  sufferer,  till  her 
earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  was 
dissolved,  and  her  spirit  was  set  free. 

I visited  her  occasionally,  and  felt 
glad  of  any  opportunity  to  speak  com- 
fortably to  one  of  God’s  people;  for  I 
hoped  she  was  a child  of  God.  It  is 
a privilege  to  be  able  to  administer 
consolation,  to  encourage  a pilgrim  in 
his  journey,  to  lift  up  one  that  is  cast 
down,  to  help  another  to  bear  his  bur- 
dens, to  speak  to  one  on  a bed  of  lan- 
guishing of  Him  who  can  make  all  his 
bed  in  his  sickness,  who  can  make  all 


THE  sergeant’s  FAMILY.  139 

things  work  together  for  good  to  them 
that  love  him,  who  can  make  our  light 
afflictions  which  are  but  for  a moment, 
to  work  for  us  a far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory. 

In  her  sickness,  she  was  the  same 
uncomplaining  person  she  had  been  in 
health  ; and  it  was  the  life  which  she 
had  led  that  gave  me  hope  respecting 
her,  rather  than  anything  remarkable 
in  her  appearance  during  her  sickness. 
She  had  no  ecstasies,  and  not  even 
strong  confidence.  She  had  only  a 
trembling  hope.  She  did  not  appear 
to  have  a very  full  or  clear  apprehen- 
sion of  the  plan  of  salvation ; yet  it 
was  apparent  that  she  trusted  in  Jesus 
to  save  her;  for  he  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners,  and  she  was  a 
sinner — he  came  to  seek  and  to  save 
the  lost,  and  she  was  lost,  and  felt  that 


140 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Jesus  was  her  only  hope — he  had  in- 
vited those  that  labour  and  are  heavy 
laden  to  come  to  him,  and  he  would 
give  them  rest,  and  such  was  her  case, 
and  she  had  no  doubt  of  the  truth  of 
Jesus’  words,  and  that  was  the  rest  she 
desired,  and  she  hoped  to  find  that 
rest  to  her  soul.  And  so  her  Christian 
friends  hoped.  They  thought  of  her 
in  dying,  as  of  one  falling  asleep  in  Je- 
sus— resting  from  her  labours,  and,  as 
to  her  body,  resting  in  hope  until  the 
resurrection. 

THINGS  NOT  IN  KEEPING  AT  A FUNERAL. 

When  1 went  to  attend  the  remains 
to  the  grave,  it  was  with  solemn 
thoughts,  and  with  the  prayer  that  we 
might  find  it  better  to  go  to  the  house 
of  mourning,  than  to  the  house  of 
feasting ; and  full  of  pity  for  the  mo- 


THINGS AT  A FUNERAL.  141 

therless  children,  and  with  sympathy 
for  the  bereaved  husband,  for  there 
was  evidence  of  the  sincerity  and 
depth  of  his  love  for  her  who  had  been 
taken  from  him. 

But  how  was  I shocked  on  opening 
the  door  of  the  house,  and  looking  in  ! 
for  there  were  congregated  all  the  ser- 
geants of  that  regiment,  and  many  wo- 
men— not  weeping  like  the  widows 
who  mourned  for  Dorcas — but  with 
cheeks  flushed  with  wine,  and  still 
passing  more  around  the  room,  with 
comments  upon  its  quality,  and  calling 
out  for  some  of  another  kind,  and  for 
mulled  wine,  and  the  like. 

This  sergeant  was  rather  a promi- 
nent man  amongst  his  peers.  He  was 
a senior  in  years  and  in  service ; and 
having  the  charge  of  the  officer’s  mess, 
he  was  expected  to  receive  more  per- 


142 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


quisites,  and  to  be  able  to  appear  gen- 
erous. But  what  an  accompaniment 
to  a funeral ! Such  was  the  custom,” 
was  the  excuse. 

There  are  people  who  seem  to  be 
possessed  with  the  idea  that,  according 
as  they  would  be  considered  to  hold  in 
estimation  the  friends  they  have  lost, 
so  must  be  the  liberality  manifested 
in  entertaining  those  who  come  to  the 
burial. 

A custom  prevails  in  some  countries 
of  feasting  the  friends  and  neighbours, 
who  have  come  to  bury  the  dead  from 
the  house,  so  that,  while  the  funeral 
services  are  progressing,  the  kettles 
are  boiling,  and  the  ovens  heating ; and 
while  some  of  the  company  are  gone  to 
the  grave,  others  must  stay  behind  to 
lay  the  tables.  We  appreciate  the  de- 
sire, on  the  part  of  the  afflicted,  to  ex- 


OF  THE  SERGEANT  HDISELF.  143 

hibit  generosity  and  gratitude  to  those 
who  have  come  to  show  kindness  to 
them,  and  respect  to  their  dead;  but 
we  have  not  much  patience  with  those 
who  encourage  the  practice,  and  evince 
more  gratification  at  the  table,  than 
sympathy  at  the  grave.  Such  prac- 
tices are  too  near  akin  to  the  “wake” 
of  the  Catholic  Irish.  When,  if  not 
in  time  of  such  affliction,  does  the 
stricken  family  need  to  have  quiet,  and 
freedom  from  cares?  Why  should  the 
house  of  mourning  be  changed  so  soon 
into  the  house  of  feasting? 

OF  THE  SERGEANT  HIMSELF. 

He  and  his  family  were  in  the  ship 
with  us  during  a perilous  voyage  up 
the  coast  of  China.  He  was,  in  some 
respects,  a devout  man,  and  meant  to 
be  religious  : he  was  evidently  anxious 


144 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


not  to  miss  heaven ; and  wished  not  to 
he  surprised,  and  off  his  watch,  when 
death  should  come.  He  was  not  able 
to  attend  many  of  the  religious  meet- 
ings, for  he  had  charge  of  the  officers’ 
mess,  which  kept  him  closely  occupied 
at  home,  and  this,  on  the  Sabbath,  as 
well  as  other  days ; he  was  even  more 
engaged  on  the  Sabbath  than  any  other 
day  of  the  week,  for  on  that  day 
more  company  than  usual  were  ex- 
pected. Whether  he  was  compelled 
to  take  that  berth  or  not,  I don’t  know; 
but  subordinates  and  privates  in  the 
army  cannot  always  do  as  a well 
instructed  conscience  would  dictate, 
and  therefore,  one  would  be  inclined  to 
think  that  a person  after  praying, 
“ Lead  us  not  into  temptation,”  could 
not  consistently  go  and  enter  the  army, 
except  for  some  special  emergency,  and 


OF  THE  SERGEANT  HIMSELF.  145 

in  hopes  that  it  might  be  for  a short 
time. 

Our  sergeant  was  not  ashamed  to 
avoAV  his  belief  in  the  Christian  religion, 
and  his  respect  for  those  who  endea- 
voured to  follow  Christ,  and  his  full 
persuasion  that  there  was  no  way  of 
salvation  but  that  pointed  out  in  the 
Bible.  He  had  some  fear  of  God  be- 
fore his  eyes,  and  was  desirous  that  his 
family  should  have  religious  privileges, 
and  that  his  children  should  be  brought 
up  in  the  fear  of  God ; and  yet,  like 
many  others  whom  we  meet,  his  ac- 
count of  himself,  as  to  faith  and  hope, 
was  not  so  satisfactory  as  could  be 
desired.  He  would  not  be  able  to 
give  such  an  answer  to  them  who 
might  ask  a reason  for  the  hope  that 
was  in  him,  as  we  would  like  to  hear; 
and,  indeed,  when  conversed  with  upon 
13 


146 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


this  subject,  he  ever  manifested  more 
fear  than  hope.  Meekness  and  fear 
were  prominent  when  he  was  talking 
of  himself ; he  appeared  not  to  trust 
in  himself  at  all,  but  only  in  the  mercy 
of  God,  and  merit  of  Christ.  Humil- 
ity and  sincerity  were  noticeable 
marks  in  his  character.  Always,  when 
present  at  meeting,  he  was  a model  of 
a devout  worshipper,  and  attentive 
hearer. 

An  air  of  devotion  accompanied  his 
common  expressions  of  civility,  which 
in  these  days,  and  in  this  country,  is 
almost  unknown.  No  person  would  be 
long  in  his  company  without  remarking 
his  reverence  for  sacred  things,  and  his 
recognition  of  God’s  providence.  Never 
did  he  speak  of  anything  as  in  his  ar- 
rangements for  the  future,  but  it  was 
accompanied  by  an  “ If  the  Lord  will  ” — 


OF  THE  SERGEANT  HIMSELF.  147 

“ Please  God,  I will  do  so  or  so.”  He 
would  never  answer  your  inquiries 
after  the  health  of  his  family,  but  he, 
at  the  same  time,  thanked  the  Lord  for 
the  good  report  he  was  able  to  give 
such  as,  “We  are  all  well,  thank  God  5” 
and  this  not,  as  too  many  do,  carelessly 
and  almost  profanely,  but  in  a reveren- 
tial and  hearty  manner,  which  evinced 
that  it  was  from  the  heart. 

It  was  pleasing,  on  one  occasion,  to 
witness  his  spirit  and  boldness  in  de- 
fending the  account  of  the  Dairyman’s 
daughter.  The  infidel  supercargo,  and 
a loose-living  young  fellow,  a passen- 
ger, were  full  of  their  flings  at  Chris- 
tianity, and  quite  glib  in  their  denun- 
ciations of  the  religious  sects;  some- 
times charging  them  with  manufac- 
turing stories  about  pious  people,  and 
happy  death-beds,  and  the  like  ; all 


148 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


for  the  purpose  of  working  upon  the 
feelings  of  weak-minded  people ; as, 
for  instance,  said  they,  that  story  of 
the  Dairyman’s  daughter — that  is  all 
fiction — no  such  girl  as  that  ever  lived. 
The  sergeant  had  been  standing  by, 
leaning  his  broad  back  against  the  bul- 
warks, and  listening  in  silence  till  they 
had  finished  all  they  had  to  say  about 
the  Dairyman’s  daughter;  then  stepping 
a little  forward  and  facing  them,  he 
said,  “ Beg  your  pardon,  gentlemen, 
but  I know  something  about  that  mat- 
ter myself.  I am  an  Arreton  man.  I 
was  born  in  the  very  parish  where  that 
young  woman  lived,  who  was  Elizabeth 
Walbridge,  the  Dairyman’s  daughter. 
I have  been  to  the  church  where  she 
attended,  and  know  the  seat  she  sat  in, 
and  many  and  many  is  the  time  that  1 
have  visited  her  grave.  I have  more 


WHAT  A LOSS  TO  LOSE  A WIFE.  149 

than  once  read  that  tract  you  have 
been  speaking  of,  and  I know  that  it 
is  true,  and  the  facts  related  in  it  are 
common  talk  amongst  the  people  of 
that  neighbourhood.  The  account  is 
true,  gentlemen,  and  you  cannot  prove 
it  false.” 

His  air  and  manner  while  saying 
this  was  that  of  a man  who  felt  that 
not  only  had  the  authenticity  of  a 
favourite  book  been  attacked,  but  that 
his  religion  had  been  assailed,  and  an 
insult  offered  to  his  God;  and  the 
scoffers  quailed  before  him.  No  one 
Avho  saw  and  heard  him  doubted  that 
he  averred  the  very  things  which  he 
had  seen  and  heard. 

WHAT  A LOSS  IS  IT  TO  LOSE  A WIFE. 

When  the  sergeant’s  wife  was  taken 
from  him  he  seemed  greatly  cast 
13* 


150 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


down,  and  oppressed  with  grief  and 
care.  “What  shall  I do — how  can  I 
attend  to  these  little  girls?”  he  said. 
Often  did  he  visit  the  grave,  over  which, 
at  great  expense,  he  placed  a hand- 
some monument.  Not  long  afterwards 
he  was  prostrated  by  a stroke  of  the  sun, 
on  a field  day,  on  the  parade  ground. 
From  this  he  did  not  fully  recover, 
and  his  mind  seemed  not  to  be  quite 
right;  and  his  accounts  running  a little 
into  confusion,  and  having  a great 
press  of  business  crowding  upon  him 
in  laying  in  provisions  for  a sea  voy- 
age, for  the  mess  of  which  he  had 
charge,  he  went  nearly  distracted,  and 
soon  we  were  shocked  by  the  report  that 
he  had  attempted  suicide.  When  his 
little  girls  awoke  one  Sabbath  morning, 
they  shrieked  at  the  sight  of  their  father 
lying  on  the  floor  in  his  own  blood. 


woman’s  mission.  151 

He  had  tried  to  cut  his  throat,  but  had 
only  severed,  or  partly  severed,  the 
windpipe.  The  surgeons  took  him  in 
hand,  and  by  his  loss  of  blood,  and 
rest  in  the  hospital,  he  came  to  his 
right  mind  again.  He  appeared  grieved 
and  humbled  for  his  folly  and  wicked- 
ness in  attempting  self-murder,  and 
was  thankful  that  his  Maker  and  Pre- 
server did  not  permit  him  to  finish  it; 
and  he  prayed  for  forgiveness,  and  to 
be  kept  back  from  that,  and  all  pre- 
sumptuous sins  in  future. 

woman’s  mission. 

I do  not  by  any  means  expect  to 
exhaust  this  subject,  and  tell  what  is 
the  whole  of  woman’s  mission ; nor  yet 
to  give  what  might  be  termed  a lecture 
on  this  theme,  but  merely  to  allude  to 
a few  things  that  women  may  do — 


152 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


just  to  hint  at  what  the  influence  of 
woman  is;  and  I will  simply  tell  you 
of  some  things  which  I noticed  at  Chu- 
san,  and  indeed  which  may  be  obser- 
ved everywhere,  that  a good  wife,  or 
a good  sister,  or  a good  mother  is 
doing  more  good  in  the  world  than 
can  be  estimated,  and  they  are  doing 
it  in  a quiet,  unobtrusive  way.  It  is 
not  woman’s  mission  to  • face  the 
cannon’s  mouth — to  scale  the  walls  of 
besieged  towns — to  clear  up  the  fo- 
rests, or  to  break  up  the  prairies — to 
mingle  in  the  crowds  at  political  gath- 
erings, nor  to  sit  in  legislative  halls; 
but  by  her  influence  the  men  are 
better  fitted  to  discharge  their  duties, 
whatever  they  may  be.  On  their 
account,  for  various  reasons  which  we 
will  not  now  take  time  to  mention, 
they  have  increased  motives  to  be  in- 


woman’s  mission. 


153 


dustrious,  sober,  and  virtuous;  and  by 
their  influence  numbers  are  kept  from 
the  many  dangers  and  snares  to  which 
those  are  exposed  who  have  not  a 
home,  and  who  are  not  under  the  re- 
straint, or  do  not  enjoy  the  refining 
influences  of  virtuous  female  society. 
We  noticed  this  amongst  the  troops. 
Those  officers  and  soldiers  that  had 
their  wives  with  them — wives  that 
were  what  wives  ought  to  be — were 
more  “regular.” 

In  the  army,  the  arrangement,  I be- 
lieve, is  that  when  a regiment  is  to  be 
sent  on  foreign  service,  a limited  num- 
ber of  women  may  be  taken  along; 
the  number  will  vary  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  service  on  which  the 
army  is  sent.  Sometimes  it  is  one 
woman  to  a hundred  men,  and  then 
the  soldiers  that  have  wives  are  per- 


154 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


mitted  to  draw  lots,  and  he  to  whom 
the  lot  falls  takes  his  wife  with  him, 
and  all  others  must  leave  their  wives 
behind. 

When  in  barracks,  the  men  with 
families  are  permitted  to  have  rooms 
by  themselves,  and  the  women  are  ex- 
pected to  be  ready  to  make  themselves 
useful  in  the  regiment;  for  their  la- 
bour they  are  paid,  and  that  pay  is 
needed  to  provide  them  family  com- 
forts. 

The  men  that  had  good  wives — and 
it  must  be  admitted  that  there  were 
some  wives  that  were  not  good,  and 
oh,  how  repulsive  an  object,  and  how 
to  be  pitied  is  a bad  woman ! — but  the 
men  that  had  good  wives  were  gener- 
ally better  men,  more  regular  in  their 
habits,  more  tidy  in  their  appearance 
than  some  others  : and  the  same  was  oh- 


woman’s  mission. 


155 


servable  in  the  case  of  those  who  had 
left  virtuous  wives  in  India,  or  in  Eng- 
land. I think  too  it  was  to  be  observed 
that  when  men  had  lost  their  wives^ 
where  they  themselves  were  not  gov- 
erned by  settled  principles,  and  the 
fear  of  God,  they  began  to  decline 
somewhat  in  their  habits  and  appear- 
ance. And  what  a blessing  is  it  for 
a child  to  have  a good  mother  ! And 
what  a calamity  to  be  born  of  a 
wicked  mother  ! These  observations 
we  have  occasion  to  note  everywhere, 
but  the  examples  are  perhaps  more 
striking  in  the  army. 

Indeed,  the  army  does  not  seem  to 
be  a place  for  children  at  all ; yet  if 
there  will  be  children  following  their 
fathers  to  the  camp  and  to  the  field, 
then,  for  the  safety  of  their  morals, 
and  for  the  sake  of  their  souls,  may 
good  mothers  be  sent  with  them. 


156 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


HER  HUSBAND  IS  KNOWN  IN  THE  GATES. 

Whoever  might  meet  with,  or  have 
an  opportunity  to  know  much  of  pri- 
vate S , would,  I fancy,  find  him- 

self soliloquizing  thus,  “ I wonder  if 
that  man  has  not  a good  wife  some- 
w^here ; he’s  ahvays  so  clean  and  tidy 
— is  not  often  to  be  found  except 
where  duty  calls  him;  never  amongst 
the  loungers ; and  perhaps  she  gov. 
erns  him,  but  if  so,  it  is  only  by  the 
force  of  her  loA'^e  and  gentleness, 
for  he  holds  up  his  head  and  always 
seems  happy.” 

And  whoever  might  see  little  Johnny 
would  know  that  he  had  one  of  the 
“best  of  mothers,”  for  see,  he  is  a 
little  gentleman — how  clean  ! how 
happy ! how  nicely  he  answers  your 
questions  ! Never  rude,  playing  con- 


HER  HUSBAND  KNOWN  IN  GATES.  157 

tentedly  by  himself;  never  found  in 
the  crowd ; never  seen  w^th  those 
swearing,  fighting  boys.  And  when 
he  conducts  you  into  the  house  where 
his  mother  is  busy  at  her  work,  you 
see  how  he  loves  her,  and  how  she 
loves  him.  How  quickly  and  cheer- 
fully he  does  whatever,  by  look  or 
word,  she  intimates  that  she  would 
wish  to  have  done  ! 

As  3’et  his  mother  has  been  able  to 
teach  him,  and  he  has  not  been  sent 
to  the  army  school-master.  And  we 
are  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  Mrs. 

S , and  wonder  why  providence 

should  have  caused  her  lot  to  fall  in 
the  midst  of  such  scenes.  We  wmnder 
why  a woman  worthy  of  a better  lot, 
(as  in  our  haste  we  are  apt  to  say,) 
and  who  can  find  so  little  in  the  scenes 
amid  which  she  has  to  live  in  sympa- 
14 


158 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


thy  with  her  feelings  and  taste,  should 
have  to  bring  up  her  little  boy  amid 
so  many  of  the  worst  temptations  that 
we  can  think  of.  But  at  the  same 
time  we  are  glad  of  every  good  exam- 
ple. We  are  thankful  for  every  can- 
dle on  its  candlestick  dispensing  its 
light ; for  every  city  set  on  a hill ; any 
salt  that  has  not  lost  its  savour,  and 
that  may  help  to  keep  the  mass  from 
entire  corruption. 

But  about  Mrs.  S . We  were 

hoping  to  find  her  a decided  Christian, 
and  enjoying  the  comforts  of  the  Chris- 
tian’s hope.  But  while  in  all  things 
her  life  was  exemplary,  while  she 
loved  to  read  and  hear  the  scriptures, 
and  loved  to  pray,  and  carefully  in- 
structed her  child,  and  seemed  to  have 
but  one  wish  concerning  him,  which 
was  that  he  might  be  brought  up  in  the 


HER  HUSBAND  KNOWN  IN  GATES.  159 

nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord ; 
yet  she  had  no  hope  for  herself,  and 
remained  like  one  who  is  seeking 
Christ  sorrowing.  I occasionally  lent 
her  a book  such  as  I thought  might  be 
profitable,  and  conversed  with  her  as 
well  as  I knew  how. 

It  seemed  to  me  that  she  was  fol- 
lowing Christ,  and  if  so,  I wished  she 
might  have  all  the  comfort  such  a hope 
might  yield.  I did  not,  however,  tell 
her  my  impressions,  but  trusted  that 
if,  indeed,  as  one  labouring  and  heavy 
laden,  she  had  come  to  Christ,  he 
would  give  rest  to  her  soul — would  re- 
veal himself  to  her,  and  cause  his  love 
to  be  shed  abroad  in  her  heart — all  in 
his  own  good  time. 

Soon  after  my  acquaintance  began 
in  that  quiet  little  family,  the  wife  and 
mother  was  taken  down  with  a linger- 


160 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


ing,  wasting  disease.  I called  upon 
her  many  times.  She  was  very  grate- 
ful for  such  calls,  and  no  one  could  be 
more  attentive  to  religious  instruction. 
She  seemed  to  drink  in  the  word  of 
God,  to  be  hungering  and  thirsting 
after  righteousness,  and  appeared  to 
regard  it  a great  privilege  to  unite  with 
another  in  prayer.  Still,  however,  she 
expected  better  evidence  before  she 
would  presume  to  hope  that  she  was 
reconciled  to  God.  She  did  not  re- 
member any  particular  time  when  she 
had  experienced  a change  worthy  to 
be  called  regeneration,  for  that  she 
thought  must  be  a very  great  change. 
It  seemed  to  her  that  for  a person  to 
think  himself  a Christian,  he  must  be  a 
great  deal  better  than  she  felt  herself 
to  be.  The  strictness  of  the  law,  the 
holiness  of  God,  and  the  Bible  stan- 


HER  HUSBAND  KNOWN  IN  GATES.  161 

dard  of  Christian  duty  seemed  to  her 
very  high — while  she  was  constantly 
transgressing  some  commandment,  and 
coming  short  in  her  endeavours  to  do 
right.  How  could  a person  with  so 
many  foolish  and  wicked  thoughts  all 
the  time  in  his  mind,  have  a renewed 
heart  within  him  ? Then  we  spoke 
to  her  of  Paul’s  experience,  who  found 
a law  in  his  members  warring  against 
the  law  of  his  mind,  and  that  when  he 
would  do  good,  evil  was  present  with 
him.  We  reminded  her  that  Christ  is 
to  he  our  righteousness,  that  as  our 
sins  are  laid  on  him,  so  is  his  righteous- 
ness laid  on  us,  and  so  we  are  complete 
in  him.  In  ourselves,  we  are,  indeed, 
wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and 
blind,  and  naked;  hut  he  becomes  unto 
us  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and 
sanctification,  and  redemption. 

14* 


162 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


The  very  thing  we  need  is  to  feel 
our  wretchedness  and  poverty,  and  ap- 
ply to  Christ  to  supply  all  we  lack ; 
and  we  lack  everything. 

We  conversed  occasionally  of  the 
marks  of  the  child  of  God,  of  his 
hopes  and  fears,  joys  and  sorrows. 
She  was  told,  however,  that  it  is  not 
necessary  for  a person  always  to  be 
vexing  himself  with  the  question,  whe- 
ther or  not  he  is  converted,  but  to 
come  to  Jesus  at  once,  and  we  may  be 
sure  that  if  we  do  come  to  him  he  will 
not  cast  us  off.  If  we  confess  our  sins, 
God  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us 
our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  un- 
righteousness. Christ  invites  the  la- 
bouring and  heavy  laden  to  come  to 
him  for  rest,  and  they  need  not  wait 
for  fitness,  but  come  as  they  are ; for 
not  the  righteous,  but  sinners  it  was 


HER  HUSBAND  KNOWN  IN  GATES.  163 

that  Jesus  came  to  call.  And  we  have 
to  come  to  Jesus  every  day,  and  all 
the  time ; the  faith  at  first  required  in 
coming  to  him,  we  need  to  have  in  con- 
stant exercise  to  keep  us  near  him. 
We  need  not  only  to  be  born  again  by 
faith,  but  every  day  we  must  be  living 
the  life  of  faith. 

She  said  that  sometimes  she  thought 
she  did  try  to  do  all  this ; but,  she 
said,  she  was  very  ignorant,  and  feared 
she  never  would  be  able  to  understand 
much  about  these  things  which  belong 
to  the  kingdom  of  God. 

It  was  pretty  evident  that,  like 
Mary,  she  did  love  to  sit  where  she 
might  hear  the  words  of  Jesus  ; but, 
as  yet,  there  was  nothing  that  seemed 
to  say  to  her  that,  like  Mary,  she  had 
chosen  that  good  part  that  might  not  be 
taken  away  from  her  : but,  as  to  being 


164 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


careful  and  troubled  about  many  things, 
she  thought  she  was  not ; though  for 
her  husband  and  for  her  Johnny  she 
allowed  that  she  had  some  anxiety ; 
for,  when  she  should  be  here  no  more, 
who  would  take  the  care  of  them  that 
she  had  done  ? Would  her  dear  child 
be  trained  in  the  love  and  service  of 
God  ? Oh,  it  was  so  dreadful  for  her 
to  think  that  he  might  forget  all  her 
instructions,  and  learn  to  curse  and 
swear,  and  keep  company  with  scoffers! 
She  would  be  glad  to  live  that  she 
might  take  care  of  her  family,  and  do 
some  little  good,  perhaps,  for  others, 
and  be  better  prepared  herself  to 
die ; but  yet  she  hoped  she  might  not 
complain,  for  God  did  all  things  right, 
and  he  had  always  been  so  good  to  her 
— she  had  so  many  mercies,  so  many 
good  things,  so  many  comforts,  that 


HER  HUSBAND  KNOWN  IN  GATES.  165 

many  another  woman  in  the  barracks 
did  not  have. 

She  continued  much  in  the  state  of 
mind  of  which  I have  spoken  until  she 
was  borne  on  board  a vessel  bound  to 
India  ; though,  as  her  health  declined, 
there  did  seem  to  be  some  faint  dawn- 
ing of  light  in  her  soul.  She  was 
asked,  if,  in  view  of  death  she  could 
not  say,  “ Lord,  into  thy  hand  I com- 
mend my  spirit.”  She  thought  she 
could ; she  thought  she  did.  She  was 
told  that  that  was  all  we  could  do,  and 
all  we  need  to  do ; that  the  Christian 
can  do  no  more.  The  thief  on  the 
cross  could  only  say,  “ Lord,  remember 
me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  king- 
dom.” 

She  was  asked,  if  she  did  not  like 
to  think  of  God  as  a Father,  and  if  she 
did  not  wish  to  be  his  child. 


166 


SCENES  IN  CHTSAN. 


She  answered,  that  she  could  truly 
say  she  did;  and  said,  moreover,  that 
there  was  comfort  in  the  thought  that 
there  could  be  such  a relation,  and  felt 
thankful  that  we  were  taught  when  we 
pray  to  say,  “ Our  Father  which  art  in 
heaven,”  and  if  she  could  only  feel 
that  she  was  a child  of  God  she  would 
be  so  happy. 

An  inquiry  then  was  suggested  whe- 
ther there  might  not  be  in  that  desire 
something  of  the  spirit  of  adoption, 
which  God  sends  into  the  hearts  of 
his  people  teaching  them  to  cry,  Abba, 
Father. 

I may  be  right,  or  I may  be  wrong; 
but  I have  been  accustomed  to  think 
of  her  as  one  whose  transgression  is 
hid,  whose  sin  is  covered.  She  seemed 
desirous  to  forsake  all  and  follow 
Christ. 


MRS.  C- 


167 


She  died  at  sea,  I think,  and  though 
her  body  was  laid  down  in  the  dark 
and  silent  chambers  of  the  ocean,  yet 
I have  a hope  for  her  that  her  dust  is 
precious  to  Christ,  and  that  when  the 
sea  gives  up  its  dead,  she  will  have 
part  with  those  who  shall  be  taken  up 
to  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord. 

MRS.  c 

Was  so  clean  and  industrious,  so 
kind  and  obliging,  and  so  ready  at  all 
kinds  of  work,  and  a truly  pious 
woman  withal,  that  a great  many 
ladies  tried  to  procure  her  services. 
Some  sent  for  her  to  come  and  live  for 
awhile  in  their  families  with  the  pro- 
mise of  liberal  wages.  But  she  was  a 
good  wife  too;  too  good  a wife  to 
allow  her  home — her  little  room — to 
be  for  even  one  night  without  the 


168 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


attractions  which  her  industry  and 
cleanliness,  and  her  own  smiles  and 
kind  words  could  give  it.  She  was 
not  willing  that  her  husband  should, 
even  for  one  evening,  have  an  excuse 
or  temptation  to  seek  entertainment 
elsewhere  than  at  home.  How  well 
would  it  be  if  all  wives  were  like  this 
one,  whose  study  was  to  make  home  at- 
tractive! Then  would  there  be  fewer 
husbands  and  sons  disposed  to  look  for 
entertainment  in  taverns,  and  saloons, 
and  at  theatres  and  kindred  places. 

It  was  an  old  Buddhist  temple  that 
was  occupied  as  quarters  by  some  of 
the  married  people;  and  though  pic- 
turesque, and  neatly  kept  while  they 
were  used  as  temples,  now  they  were 
much  mutilated  and  fast  going  to 
decay,  and  the  quarters  of  some  of  the 
women  were  desolate  and  cheerless 


MRS.  C . 


169 


enough;  and  the  inmates  in  some 
cases  would  attempt  to  excuse  the 
untidy  appearance  of  their  habitations 
by  saying,  “It’s  such  an  old,  dirty 
place,  sir — there’s  little  to  encourage 
one  to  try  and  fix  up,  and  it’s  for  so 
short  a time  too,  one  doesn’t  feel  like 
going  to  much  expense  to  get  things 
to  look  respectable.”  But  just  along- 
side of  those  who  thus  excused  them- 
selves was  the  room  of  Mrs.  C , 

clean,  wholesome,  and  cheerful;  con- 
taining, it  is  true,  but  few  articles  of 
furniture;  but  these  tastefully  ar- 
ranged, and  all  appeared  as  if  the 
inmates  might  be  happy.  The  Bible 
and  hymn  book  occupied  a convenient 
place,  and  gave  evidence  of  being 
kept,  not  for  ornament,  but  for  use. 

It  was  in  this  room  that  the  last 
season  of  prayer  with  the  little  band 
15 


170 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


of  praying  soldiers  and  the  pious 
women  was  held,  just  before  their  em- 
barkation for  another  country,  and  for 
other  scenes  of  duty  and  of  suffering. 
It  was  with  them  a time  of  weeping. 
There  is  sorrow  when  Christians  have 
to  part,  but  those  sorrows  are  min- 
gled with  joy  in  the  hope  of  meeting 
again. 


THE  UNFAITHFUL  WIFE. 

“Rejoice  with  those  that  do  rejoice, 
and  weep  with  those  that  weep.”  It 
was  pleasing  to  witness  how  promptly, 
and  as  if  by  a new  instinct,  the  Chris- 
tian soldiers  were  wont  to  practise 
what  is  enjoined  in  these  words. 

A young  man,  a member  of  the 
band,  whose  uniform  was  a buff  coat 
and  pants,  with  scarlet  trimmings  and 
with  some  polished  brass,  was  a regu- 


THE  UNFAITHFUL  WIFE,  171 

lar  attendant  at  all  the  meetings.  He 
usually,  when  present,  led  the  singing ; 
a young  man  of  a pleasant,  honest 
face,  and  meek  and  quiet  in  his  man- 
ners. 

We  had  learned  that  he  had  a wife 
at  Hong  Kong,  who,  when  his  company 
was  sent  north,  was  left  there  because 
there  were  not  accommodations  in  the 
ship  for  any  but  the  men. 

But  by  and  by  there  was  a report 
that  a vessel  with  recruits  and  with  re- 
stored invalid  soldiers,  and  the  women 
left  behind,  was  coming  up,  and  that 
the  musician’s  wife  was  of  the  num- 
ber ; and  our  soldiers  talked  with  each 
other  about  it  as  “ good  news.”  ‘‘And 
did  you  hear,”  they  would  say,  “ did 

5mu  hear  that  R ’s  wife  is  coming?” 

The  husband’s  joy  was  apparent  in 
his  face,  and  in  his  lighter  step ; and 


172 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


all  were  glad  for  him,  and  wished  him 
much  happiness  in  the  prospect  of  a 
speedy  reunion.  The  south-west  mon- 
soon soon  brought  the  expected  ship 
among  the  islands ; eager  eyes  de- 
scried her  from  the  hill-tops;  on  a 
flowing  tide  she  rode  into  the  harbour. 
There  were  appointed  officers  to  board 
her  even  before  she  came  to  anchor, 
and  our  friend  was  soon  quite  happy, 
for  he  heard  that  his  wife  was  indeed 
on  board ; and  soon  he  had  her  con- 
veyed ashore.  But,  poor  fellow  ! his 
rejoicing  was  to  be  short.  His  great 
joy  was  to  be  succeeded  by  a greater 
sorrow.  The  rumour  of  his  wife’s  dis- 
honour followed  her  ashore ; even  her 
seducer  published  it,  and  taunted  the 
injured  husband  with  it.  Whata  brute ! 
worse  than  a brute  ! But  amongst 
such  loathsome  creatures  must  all 


THE  UNFAITHFUL  WIFE, 


173 


those  dwell  eternally  who  fail  of  ad- 
mittance into  heaven.  See  Rev.  xxii. 
15.  The  seducer  of  the  wife  taunted 
the  injured  husband,  and  he  had  no 
means  of  resenting;  or  repelling  the 
insult,  or  of  punishing  the  crime,  ex- 
cept such  as  a Christian  would  not  re- 
sort to. 

And  now  again  we  saw  how  when 
one  member  suffers  all  the  members 
suffer  with  it.  How  apparent,  and  how 
touching  was  the  sympathy  of  those 
Christian  brethren  ! Their  brother’s 
affliction  was  an  affliction  to  them  ; the 
sorrow  he  felt,  they,  in  some  measure, 
felt  with  him.  They  felt  for  him  be- 
cause of  the  disgrace  which  had  come 
upon  him  in  consequence  of  the  shame- 
ful conduct  of  his  wife ; they  sympa- 
thized with  him  in  the  shock  which 
his  heart  had  felt.  As  far  as  possible 
15* 


174 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


they  would  place  themselves  between 
him  and  the  brutal  fellows  who  made 
sport  of  his  affliction. 

How  to  be  pitied  was  this  young  man ! 
He  must  continue  to  live  with  that 
woman  who  had  forsaken  him  for 
strangers,  and  he  must  still  hear  her 
called  his  wife,  though  she  had  com- 
mitted that  crime  which  the  scriptures 
make  sufficient  ground  for  separation. 
He  would,  for  a while  at  least,  have 
to  endure  the  evil ; for  in  the  army, 
and  on  foreign  service,  many  things 
are  managed  differently  from  what 
they  are  where  appeal  may  be  had  to 
the  civil  courts. 

But  he  did  not  neglect  religious 
duties,  nothing  like  these  troubles 
could  keep  him  from  mingling  with 
his  brethren  in  the  worship  of  God;  he 
seemed  glad  of  such  a refuge  and  rest 


THE  UNFAITHFUL  WIFE. 


175 


for  his  stricken  spirit.  How  sorrow- 
ful he  seemed ! how  pale  and  sunken 
those  cheeks,  usually  so  fresh  and  full ! 
Still  he  sung  for  us,  but  with  a voice 
which  betrayed  the  sadness  of  the 
heart.  There  was,  however,  an  ex- 
pression of  calm  and  Christian  resig- 
nation; a something  which  seemed  to 
say,  “It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  as 
seemeth  him  good.” 

He  did  not  speak  to  me  of  his  trou- 
bles, nor  did  I think  it  best  just  then 
to  speak  to  him  of  them;  yet  it  was 
practicable  and  proper  so  to  shape 
some  parts  of  the  religious  services, 
and  select  such  portions  of  the  word 
of  God  that  such  a smitten  one  as  he 
might  receive  some  drops  of  the  balm 
of  Gilead — might  hear  of  Him  who 
wounds  that  he  may  heal — of  him 
who  is  the  refuge  of  his  saints. 


176 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


Oh,  how  hateful  and  loathsome  is 
the  sin  which  that  unfaithful  wife  com- 
mitted ! What  wretchedness  she  caused 
others,  and  what  injury  she  brought 
to  her  own  soul!  How  was  joy  turned 
to  weeping,  and  sweetness  to  gall  and 
wormwood ! 

See,  then,  and  remember  how  im- 
portant is  that  commandment  which 
“forbids  all  unchaste  thoughts,  words, 
and  actions.” 

When  we  see  human  nature  thus, 
and  in  other  abominable  ways  devel- 
oping itself — laying  bare  some  marks 
of  its  total  depravity — showing  what 
works  it  delights  in;  when  we  see  or 
hear  of  human  beings  who  are  past 
feeling,  and  have  given  themselves 
over  to  lasciviousness,  and  to  work  un- 
cleanness, we  may  almost  be  ready  to 
deny  that  we  have  any  part  of  that 


THE  SERGEANT  AND  THE  CORPORAL.  177 

nature.  But  to  our  shame  we  must 
own  that  by  nature  our  hearts  are  as 
vile  as  those  of  any  people,  and  should 
God  at  any  time  withdraw  his  re- 
straining grace,  we  would  become  as 
sensual  and  devilish  as  the  worst. 
Therefore  how  earnestly  should  we 
pray  to  be  kept  back  from  presump- 
tuous sins ! How  should  we  pray 
God  not  to  take  his  Holy  Spirit  from 
us,  but  to  create  in  us  a clean  heart, 
and  to  renew  a right  spirit  within  us  ! 

This  poor  woman  was  a victim  of 
the  cholera  in  India  soon  after  their 
arrival  there. 

SERGEANT  R , AND  CORPORAL  C . 

These  were  artillerymen,  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  East  India  company — men 
in  middle  life,  and  never,  to  my  know- 
ledge, on  the  sick  list.  As  intimated 


178 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


before,  it  was  the  intemperate  that 
were  most  frequently  under  the  sur- 
geon’s and  apothecary’s  care. 

Corporal  C was  lively,  always 

in  good  spirits,  communicative,  and 
when  he  could  not  think  of  one  thing 
he  could  of  another;  not  obtrusive,  by 
any  means,  but  he  took  a pleasure  in 
relating  what  he  had  s^en,  presuming 
that  all  other  people  were  as  much  in- 
terested in  hearing,  as  he  in  telling  ; 
and  though  he  was  apparently  uncon- 
scious of  possessing  any  uncommon 
powers  of  description,  yet  he  would 
lead  one  on  with  him  amidst  all  the 
wild  scenes  through  which  he  had 
passed,  and  his  auditors  with  himself 
saw,  heard,  and  felt  over  again  what 
had  taken  place  in  the  months  and 
years  gone  by. 

Sergeant  R- 


was  no  less  good 


THE  SERGEANT  AND  THE  CORPORAL.  179 

natured,  and  no  less  fond  of  company 
than  C ; yet,  I think,  he  was  some- 

what more  particular  in  the  choice  of 
his  companions,  and  regarded  his  com- 
rade as  a little  too  much  given  to  talk- 
ing, and  not  always  quite  so  serious  as 
he  ought  to  be. 

R seldom  undertook  a descrip- 

tion ; his  tongue  could  not  get  loose  ; 
and  his  references  to  the  past  were  by 

brief  allusions.  C lived  much  in 

the  past,  R , more  in  the  present ; 

while  C also  enjoyed  the  present, 

and  was  hopeful  as  to  the  future. 

I seem  just  now  to  see  these  men 
walking  together  in  their  blue  uniform, 
white  belts,  the  red  stripes  down  the 
outside  of  their  pants,  moving  exactly 
together,  their  heels  striking  the  pave- 
ment precisely  at  the  same  instant. 
But,  unlike  many  soldiers,  they  were 


180 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


not  absolutely  as  upright  as  a palm 

tree,  for,  while  R had  seemingly 

a slight  inclination  backward,  C 

had  about  the  same  pitch  forward,  and 
so  they  were  pretty  well  matched  after 
all ; for  the  ardour  and  impulsiveness 
of  the  one  was  steadied  by  the  mode- 
ration of  the  other  ; the  preciseness 
of  one  was  set  off  by  the  ease  of  the 
other.  One  was  conservative,  the  other 
sanguine ; one  gave  you  his  sober 
second  thought,  the  other  thought 
quick  and  spoke  quick. 

Both  these  men  were  converted  in 
India,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Christian  missionaries  there,  and  they 
took  a lively  interest  in  the  missionary 
work,  and  read  with  a relish  the  mis- 
sionary periodicals,  and  were  accus- 
tomed to  say  that  it  became  them  to 
favour  that  cause,  and  to  bless  the 


THE  SERGEANT  AND  THE  CORPORAL.  181 

Lord  for  having  sent  missionaries  to 
India;  else  what  would  have  become 
of  them  ? They  seemed  fond  of  talk- 
ing of  the  influence  of  the  gospel  in 
India,  of  what  they  had  witnessed  of 
its  power  upon  the  natives  of  India,  of 
the  change  wrought  in  many  of  them, 
and  of  the  influence  which  was  flowing 
out  from  the  mission  schools. 

You  may  therefore  think  of  these 
two  men  as  some  of  the  fruits  of  the 
incidental  labours  of  Christian  mission- 
aries in  India.  When  you  sit  down  to 
count  up  the  results  of  foreign  missions, 
you  may  reckon  up  many  other  things 
besides  those  that  are  recorded  in  the 
regular  and  strictly  missionary  reports. 
And  let  those  who  are  in  that  work 
still  go  on  sowing  beside  all  waters. 

Both  R and  C were  mar- 

ried men;  their  wives  were  Anglo-In- 
16 


182 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


dians,  and  still  in  India.  They  were 
faithful  husbands,  and  it  was  gratifying 
to  hear  now  and  then  of  their  procu- 
ring presents  to  send  to  their  wives,  or 
carry  to  them  on  their  return. 

It  was  edifying  to  join  with  these 
men  in  social  prayer  ; and  in  social  in- 
tercourse, it  was  both  interesting  and 
profitable  to  hear  from  them  some  ac- 
count of  their  Christian  warfare. 

R lamented  his  exposure  to  so 

much  temptation,  and  his  having  to 
live  where  he  must  continually  see  so 
much  wickedness  going  on.  He  had 
no  taste  for  the  work  of  war,  and  he 
wished  to  be  in  circumstances  where 
he  would  not  be  constrained  to  do 
what  conscience  condemned.  He  was 
looking  anxiously  forward  to  the  period 
when  he  should  get  his  discharge,  and 
retire  to  other  and  quieter  pursuits, 


THE  SERGEANT  AND  THE  CORPORAL  183 

and  when  there  would  be  less  to  inter- 
rupt his  meditations  on  religious  sub- 
jects. But  C seemed  not  to  have 

had  a thought  that  he  was  not  enjoying 
religion  then,  and  where  he  was,  as 
well  as  he  could  at  any  other  time  or 
anywhere.  True,  there  were  many 
things  he  could  wish  were  different, 
but  ought  we  not  to  be  content  with 
such  things  as  we  have  ? Matters 
might  be  worse  with  us  than  they  are, 
he  would  argue.  He  had  his  Bible,  he 
said,  and  much  quiet  time  to  read  it. 
If  in  the  barracks,  when  he  had  got 
out  his  book  some  nois}"  fellows  should 
begin  playing  cards  close  beside  him, 
why  he  could  soon  get  away  from 
them  and  take  refuge  under  the  wall 
of  the  fort,  or  make  a gun  carriage  his 
seat ; or  he  could  pick  up  a compan- 
ion and  be  away  for  a walk,  and  they 


184 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


two  together  could  talk  of  what  they 
had  enjoyed,  and  of  what  they  hoped 
hereafter  to  enjoy;  and  in  some  secluded 
spot  they  could  kneel  and  pray ; and 
those  were  precious  seasons,  when 
they  had  joys  which  the  world  knew 
not  of.  Such  a man  was  C , stri- 

ving to  serve  God  everywhere,  and  to 
make  the  best  of  his  circumstances ; 
and  when  the  bugle  sounded  “ boot 
and  saddle,”  no  man  was  quicker  in  his 

place  than  C , or  more  wide  awake 

to  do  his  duty  : wherever  he  might  be 
placed,  it  should  not  be  said  that  he 
was  either  afraid  or  indifferent. 

THE  TWO  FRIENDS. 

S and  P , were  two  young 

men  of  a regiment  of  infantry,  and 
generally  seen  together,  when  they 
could  obtain  liberty  at  the  same  time. 


THE  TWO  FRIENDS. 


185 


One  was  somewhat  taller  than  the 
other,  and  when  they  walked  in  com- 
pany it  was  after  the  manner  of  sol- 
diers on  a forced  march,  with  bodies 
pitching  forward,  as  though  they  had 
but  a limited  time  to  get  to  a certain 
place  and  back  again  before  the  beat 
of  the  drum. 

Their  parents  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  England,  and  they 
favoured  that  denomination.  They 
were  faithful  men,  and  exemplary  in 
every  respect.  It  was  worth  some- 
thing to  observe  how  firmly  they  re- 
sisted temptation ; how,  like  a flint 
their  faces  were  set,  and  how  steadily 
they  journeyed  Zionward;  how  harm- 
lessly the  fiery  darts  of  the  adversary 
fell  upon  them,  for  they  were  clad  with 
the  Christian  warrior’s  panoply. 

They  were  young  men,  and  unmar- 
16* 


186 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN, 


ried,  and  at  the  age  when  many  excuse 
themselves  from  giving  attention  to  the 
things  which  relate  to  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  by  the  plea  that  youth  is  the 
time  for  enjoyment:  that  is,  for  worldly 
pleasures.  But  these  young  men 
professed  to  find  more  enjoyment  in 
religion  than  they  had  ever  found  in 
all  the  pleasures  of  the  world,  whether 
in  scenes  of  gaiety,  in  the  wild  sports 
of  boys,  in  any  sensual  gratifications, 
or  exciting  games  or  exercises.  And 
why  should  they  profess  this  unless 
they  felt  it? 

Why  should  they  adopt  the  Chris- 
tian profession  in  the  face  of  serious 
opposition,  unless  they  felt  it  both  a 
privilege  and  a duty?  Why  should 
they  persevere  in  their  attendance 
upon  religious  exercises,  unless  they 
found  some  delight  in  them  ? 


THE  TWO  FRIENDS. 


187 


If  they  still  loved  sport  and  worldly 
amusements,  the  way  was  open  for  them 
to  engage  in  them  equally  as  for  others, 
and  the  popular  current  flowed  in  that 
way,  and  the  chief  study  of  many  of 
the  officers  and  men  seemed  to  be 
the  invention  of  new  pleasures,  and 
pastimes ; there  were  horse  races  and 
boat  races,  theatres,  billiard  tables, 
sham  fights ; and  Chinese  rope-dancers, 
and  players  were  employed  to  afford 
diversion  to  those  whose  time  was 
hanging  heavily  on  their  hands  ; and 
if  our  young  friends  still  had  a relish 
for  these  things,  why  did  they  so  uni- 
formly turn  away  from  them  as  from 
that  which  is  distasteful  ? 

Why  should  they  choose  to  be  singu- 
lar, and  expose  themselves  to  unnum- 
bered petty  persecutions?  To  be  a 
meeting-goer,  and  to  pray  and  sing 


188 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


psalms  was,  in  the  slang  phrase  of  the 
army,  to  be  a methodist ; and  to  be  a 
methodist  was  to  be  everything  that 
was  spiritless  and  contemptible.  The 
pious  soldier  had  to  bear  many  annoy- 
ances, and  such  opposition  as  people 
living  in  a Christian  land,  and  in  the 
midst  of  a church-going  community, 
know  very  little  about. 

We  do  not  say,  however,  that  all 
persons,  that  may  for  a time  pursue  the 
course  which  these  persons  did,  are 
necessarily  renewed  in  heart.  But 
where  they  give  evidence  of  really 
loving  religious  duties,  and  of  loving 
them  more  and  more,  and  continuing 
on  and  on  in  the  way  of  holiness,  and 
are  endeavouring  more  and  more  to  re- 
nounce all  ungodliness  and  every  world- 
ly lust,  and  to  live  soberly  and  rightr 
eously  and  godly  in  this  present  world, 


THE  TWO  FRIENDS. 


189 


we  are  encouraged  to  hope  that  they 
have  been  born  again.  Often  have  I 
asked  myself,  what  \vas  there  in  that 
little  prayer-meeting,  the  exercises  of 
which  consisted  in  reading  the  scrip- 
tures, Avith  a short  lecture  or  exhorta- 
tion, prayer  and  singing;  and  this 
in  a quiet  room  in  a retired  situation, 
and  unaccompanied  with  noise  and  nov- 
elties which  attract  many — what  Avas 
there  in  those  meetings  that  those 
young  men  should  Avalk  one  and  a half 
miles  on  a rainy  night,  or  on  a sultry 
summer  evening,  and  often  when  they 
had  barely  time  to  get  to  the  place,  sit 
the  meeting  through,  and  get  back 
again  in  season  to  answer  to  the  roll- 
call  in  the  barracks ; and  this  sometimes 
after  the  labours  of  a field  day,  or 
other  fatiguing  exercise,  Avhile  others 
resorted  to  the  Canteen  to  sip  beer  and 
tell  stories  ? 


190 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


There  must  have  been  for  them  some 
enjoyment  to  be  had  at  those  meetings 
which  others  could  not  find  there. 
They  found  in  religious  worship  plea- 
sures which  the  worldling  knows 
nothing  of.  They  had  meat  to  eat  of 
which  the  world  did  not  know.  There 
must  have  been  some  inner  life  in 
them  which  demanded,  and  which  fed 
upon  such  spiritual  food — which  hun- 
gered and  thirsted  after  righteousness 
— which  found  the  word  of  God  sweet 
to  its  taste — which  found  congenial 
society  with  those  who  talked  of  Christ 
and  his  doctrines,  of  the  church  and 
the  character  and  duties  of  its  mem- 
bers, of  heaven  and  its  glories;  else, 
how  was  it  they  continued  to  study 
the  Bible,  and  with  an  increasing 
relish?  how  did  they  come  to  have  a 
taste  for  such  writings  as  those  of 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


191 


Doddridge  and  Baxter,  and  works  on 
religious  experience,  on  keeping  the 
heart,  and  biographies  of  pious  people, 
while  others  disliked  all  these  things — 
preferring  the  beer  pot  and  the  pipe 
and  a jovial  companion  to  praying  and 
psalm-singing — preferring  newspapers, 
criminal  calendars,  turf  registers,  sto- 
ries or  travels  to  religious  reading  ? 

He  that  is  of  the  earth  is  earthly — 
the  carnal  heart  will  seek  carnal  en- 
joyment; but  he  that  is  born  from 
above  will  be  seeking  those  things 
which  are  above.  He  that  is  born  of 
God,  in  proportion  as  he  adA’ances 
in  holiness,  will  more  and  more 
find  pleasure  in  the  things  which  are 
heavenly. 

THE  LAST  TIME. 


As  the  period  which  had  been  fixed 


192 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


upon  for  vacating  the  island  drew 
near,  the  pious  soldiers  seemed  more 
intent  on  improving  the  religious  pri- 
A'ileges  which  were  now  within  their 
reach;  they  appeared  more  greedy  (if 
I may  speak  thus)  for  religious  in- 
struction, giving  the  closest  attention 
to  preaching,  and  seeking  opportu- 
nities for  private  conversation.  A 
few  began  to  attend  the  prayer  meet- 
ings who  had  hitherto  not  been  pre- 
sent ; among  these  was  a young  man, 
indeed  he  was  but  a stripling  in  his 
appearance,  with  fair  hair,  and  a 
beardless  face.  He  had  been  brought 
out  in  the  last  draft  of  recruits.  From 
the  first  he  was  attentive,  and  grew 
more  and  more  interested  in  religious 
subjects,  till  at  length  he  was  unable 
to  conceal  his  distress,  for  unbidden 
tears  would  reveal  his  emotion;  and 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


193 


at  times  when  he  tarried  for  private 
conversation,  after  others  had  with- 
drawn, his  distress  was  uncontrollable. 
He  had  begun  to  fear  that  God  could 
not  forgive  him,  for  he  was  so  great  a 
sinner,  and  the  more  he  prayed  for 
pardon,  and  sought  for  a reconciliation 
with  God,  the  more  did  former  sins 
and  present  wickedness  rise  up  before 
him,  and  he  feared  that  he  must  be  lost. 
He  felt  that  he  deserved  to  be  sent  to 
hell,  and  he  had  so  long  persisted  in 
the  ways  of  transgression,  and  put  off 
repentance  so  many  times,  that  now  it 
seemed  that  God  would  leave  him  to 
perish ; and  he  was  the  more  led  to 
think  so,  because  for  some  time  he  had 
been  trying,  as  he  thought,  to  obtain 
peace  by  confessing  his  sins,  and  im- 
ploring forgiveness,  and  God  would  not 
be  gracious ; so  that  he  feared  that  that 
17 


194 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


scripture  was  fulfilled  in  his  case  which 
says,  “ Because  I have  called  and  ye 
refused,  * * * i also  will  laugh  at 

your  calamity ; * * * then  shall  they 
call  upon  me,  but  I will  not  answer.” 
He  was  afraid  he  had  sinned  too  long, 
and  too  grievously,  and  so  many  times 
had  turned  away  his  ears  when  he  had 
heard  invitations  and  warnings,  so 
that  now  when  he  called,  God  would 
not  hear  him. 

Some  passages  of  scripture  were  re- 
peated, or  pointed  out  to  him,  in  which 
God  assures  us  that  he  is  plenteous  in 
mercy ; that  there  is  forgiveness  with 
him ; that  if  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is 
faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins, 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteous- 
ness. We  laboured  to  convince  him 
of  the  pity  of  God  for  the  sinner,  that 
because  he  loved  us  he  provided  a way 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


195 


of  salvation,  and  that  there  is  plente- 
ous redemption,  that  the  chief  of  sin- 
ners need  not  fear,  that  Christ  is  able 
and  willing  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all 
that  come  unto  God  by  him.  But  he 
continued  on  in  nearly  the  same  state 
of  mind  for  several  weeks,  searching 
the  scriptures,  reading  religious  books 
that,  if  possible,  he  might  get  some 
more  knowledge  as  to  how  he  might 
find  the  way  of  life,  and  attending  all 
the  meetings.  He  avoided  the  com- 
pany of  the  ungodly,  and  kept  with 
the  pious  people  as  much  as  it  was 
possible,  and  seemed  to  say,  like  Ruth 
to  her  mother-in-law,  “ Thy  people 
shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my 
God.”  Still  he  continued  seeking  sal- 
vation— still  feeling  his  sins  a burden 
— still  labouring  and  heavy  laden,  and, 
as  he  thought,  striving  to  come,  or  to 


196 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


learn  how  he  might  be  able  to  come,  to 
Christ,  that  he  might  find  rest  to  his 
soul. 

He  remained  in  this  state  of  mind, 
still  striving,  or  begging  to  be  told  how 
he  should  strive,  to  enter  in  at  the 
strait  gate,  on  till  the  day  previous  to 
that  fixed  upon  as  the  day  for  the  em- 
barkation, when  he  suddenly  appeared 
in  my  study. 

It  was  in  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon ; the  perspiration  was  streaming 
down  his  face,  for  the  day  was  hot : 
his  eyes  were  red  with  weeping,  and 
as  soon  as  he  entered  the  room  he  be- 
gan sobbing — he  could  not  help  it — 
and  it  was  some  time  ere  he  could 
speak.  But,  b}'’  and  by,  he  began  by 
telling  how  he  had  been  troubled,  and 
he  found  his  uneasiness  and  anxiety 
increasing  as  the  time  of  their  stay 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


197 


here  grew  shorter.  In  the  place  to 
which  they  were  going  there  might  not 
he  any  such  religious  privileges,  as  he 
had  now,  and  he  felt  more  and  more, 
his  need  of  an  instructor  in  religious 
matters.  They  were,  moreover,  to 
proceed  immediately  to  the  seat  of 
war,  to  go  into  action,  and  he  was  as 
likely  to  be  killed  as  any  other  man  ; 
or  the  cholera  might  seize  him,  or  in- 
deed he  might  die  at  any  time;  and 
he  was  not  prepared  to  die.  And 
there  were  other  matters  pressing  on 
his  mind,  and  he  had  longed  for  an- 
other interview  with  me,  and,  though 
the  men  were  all  on  duty,  he  had  ob- 
tained leave  for  a short  absence.  And 
as  he  was  hurrying  up — almost  run- 
ning— he  had  met  the  Brigadier  at  the 
city  gate,  who  stopped  him  with, 
“ Hold,  there ! where  now  ?”  to  which 
17* 


198 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


he  answered,  “ I have  leave,  sir — I am 
just  going  to  see  the  minister.”  “Go- 
ing to  see  the  minister,  eh  ? Well,  my 
lad,  improve  your  opportunity — make 
the  most  of  this  visit,  for  it’s  your  last 
chance — it’s  the  last  time,  my  boy.” 
“ And  oh,  sir  !”  said  the  young  soldier, 
“ oh,  sir ! I can’t  help  thinking  of 
that.  It  is,  indeed  1 know  it  is  the 
last  time  that  I may  come  here  for  in- 
struction; but  what  the  Brigadier  said, 
made  me  fear  too  that  may-be  this  is 
the  last  opportunity!  can  have  to  pre- 
pare to  die  ; and  his  words  that  he 
spake,  as  I met  him  at  the  gate,  kept 
ringing  in  my  ears,  and  sir — oh,  sir! 
I wish  I could  know  what  I ought  to 
do  to  be  saved  !” 

I took  up  those  words  which  had 
startled  him,  and  which  the  Spirit 
seemed  to  have  shot  like  an  arrow  into 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


199 


his  heart.  I endeavoured  to  impress 
upon  him  the  importance  of  that  very 
moment,  that  then  was  the  accepted 
time,  and  the  day  of  salvation.  I 
urged  him  to  submit  to  God.  To  say 
to  Jesus,  Lord,  save  me  or  I perish — to 
give  up  trying  to  save  himself  and 
trust  in  Jesus  to  save  him,  which  he 
alone  could  do,  and  which  he  was 
willing  to  do,  and  that  just  now ; and 
this,  he  was  told,  was  his  duty  whether 
he  was  to  stay  where  he  was,  or  go  to 
India — whether  he  was  to  live  yet  for 
fifty  years,  or  die  to-morrow. 

He  said,  he  knew  that ; he  had  been 
told  that  many  times,  but  yet  he  did 
not  see  as  he  was  getting  any  nearer  to 
being  a Christian  than  ever  he  was,  and 
he  had  begun  to  think  that  may-be 
there  was  some  particular  thing  in  the 
way ; and  there  was  one  thing  he  had 


200 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


been  thinking  about,  and  respecting 
■which  he  had  been  for  many  days  want- 
ing to  ask  me,  and  it  was  this,  whether 
it  might  not  be  his  being  a soldier  that 
hindered  his  getting  in  at  the  strait 
gate  ? 

He  had  thought  that  may-be  God 
was  so  displeased  with  his  enlisting 
that  he  would  never  forgive  him. 
“ And,  sir,”  said  he,  “ another  matter  has 
troubled  me.  Suppose  I go  into  action, 
and  my  shot  kills  a man,  or  many  men 
— that  is  sending  men  into  eternity, 
and  men  who  are  as  unprepared  to  die 
as  I am.  Oh,  it  makes  me  feel  bad — 
it  distresses  me,  sir.  I never  thought 
of  these  things  much  before  I enlisted, 
and  now  I think  of  them  when  it  is  too 
late.  How  I wish  I had  kept  clear  of 
the  army  ! I would  like,  sir,  to  have 
you  tell  me  what  you  think;  can  a 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


201 


soldier  be  a Christian,  and  can  a Chris- 
tian go  into  battle,  and  kill  his  fellow 
men,  and  be  a good  Christian  still  ?” 

1 was  sorry  to  have  that  subject 
introduced,  and  to  be  asked  such 
questions  just  then,  for  it  was  rather 
a large  subject,  and  he  had  but  a few 
minutes  longer  to  stay,  and  besides  it 
looked  like  a diversion  of  his  thoughts 
from  that  on  which  his  mind  was  so 
intensely  exercised  when  he  first  came 
in;  however,  I turned  to  Luke  iii.  14, 
and  there  showed  him  John’s  answer 
to  the  soldiers  when  they  demanded 
of  him,  saying,  “And  what  shall  we 
do  ? And  he  said  unto  them.  Do 
violence  to  no  man,  neither  accuse  any 
falsely ; and  be  content  with  your 
wages.”  It  appears,  then,  I said,  that 
John  did  not  direct  them  to  leave  the 
army,  but  to  acquit  themselves  faith- 


202 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


fully  to  their  masters,  to  be  conscien- 
tious in  the  discharge  of  every  duty 
in  the  place  and  circumstances  in 
which  providence  had  cast  their  lot 
for  the  present.  I mentioned  the  case 
of  Cornelius,  a captain  in  the  Roman 
army,  who  was  converted,  and  by  one 
of  the  apostles  was  baptized  and  re- 
ceived to  the  church,  and  we  have  no 
intimation  that  any  objection  was 
raised  on  the  ground  of  his  being  in 
the  army.  As  for  myself,  I said,  I 
should  never  choose  a military  life,  and 
would  not  wish  any  of  my  friends,  in 
ordinary  times,  to  enter  the  army ; or 
if  I had  friends  in  the  army,  I should 
wash  them  to  leave  it  as  soon  as  they 
might  do  so  honourably.  There  have 
been  times,  and  there  may  be  again, 
when  Christian  men  were  or  may  be 
called  to  take  up  arms  for  the  preser- 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


203 


ration  of  their  liberties,  civil  or  reli- 
gious ; but  just  now  he  need  not  trou- 
ble himself  with  any  of  these  ques- 
tions, for  here  he  was ; he  was  a sol- 
dier, and  it  was  out  of  his  power  for 
the  present  to  alter  his  condition ; he 
was  a soldier,  and  it  was  better  to  be  a 
good  soldier  than  a bad  soldier ; and 
as  a soldier  it  was  better  to  be  a good 
man  than  a bad  man  ; being  a soldier 
need  not  make  him  a bad  man ; being 
a soldier  need  not  hinder  him  from 
being  an  eminently  godly  man.  There 
have  been  good  soldiers;  there  are 
such  now.  Soldiers  have  been  con- 
verted, and  he  might  be.  Some  of  the 
most  exemplary  Christians  that  I have 
ever  known  perhaps,  I have  found  in 
the  army,  and  so  could  he  while  in  the 
army,  by  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  the  diligent  use  of  every  means 


204 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


of  grace  lead  a life  of  eminent  godli- 
ness. Wherever  he  might  be,  it  was 
his  duty  at  once  to  become  reconciled 
to  God ; and  at  the  same  time  it  was 
his  duty  to  acquit  himself  faithfully 
in  whatever  situation  providence  had 
cast  his  lot ; but  as  soon  as  a way 
might  be  opened  for  him  to  get  an  hon- 
ourable discharge  he  might  improve  it. 
The  mere  fact  of  his  being  a soldier 
was  not  in  the  way  of  his  becoming  a 
follower  of  Christ ; that  was  no  reason 
why  he  should  fear  that  God  could  not 
forgive  him.  But  let  us  now,  said  I, 
think  again  of  what  we  first  began 
talking  about,  that  now  is  the  ac- 
cepted time,  that  now  God  command- 
eth  all  men  everywhere  to  repent. 
Think  that  this  may  indeed  be  your 
last  time — this  may  be  the  last  call  of 
God — the  Spirit  may  be  striving  with 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


205 


you  for  the  last  time.  So  long  as  you 
remain  away  from  Christ  and  without 
rest  to  your  soul,  there  is  something  in 
the  way  on  }'-our  own  part;  it  may 
not  be  your  being  in  the  army,  but  it 
may  be  some  sin  you  are  clinging  to, 
or  covering  up,  or  you  are  depending 
on  some  goodness  of  your  own.  You 
must  confess  all  your  sins,  and  forsake 
them,  and  trust  wholly  in  the  merit 
and  intercession  of  Christ.  Say,  “ God 
be  merciful  to  me  a sinner” — look  to 
the  Lamb  of  God  to  take  away  }mur 
sins — say,  “ Lord,  I believe,  help  thou 
my  unbelief” — “ Lord,  to  whom  shall 
I go  but  unto  thee  ? thou  hast  the 
words  of  eternal  life.” 

But  his  time  was  up,  and  I might 
not  detain  him  longer.  We  kneeled 
in  prayer.  It  was  a solemn  season : 
he  felt  it  so.  His  distress  all  returned 
18 


206 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


upon  him.  We  arose.  He  reached 
one  hand  for  his  cap,  and  gave  the 
other  in  saying  farewell.  It  was  a 
tearful  parting,  but  I was  not  without 
hope  that  there  might  be  a joyful 
meeting  by  and  by.  He  was  candid, 
and  apparently  determined  to  seek 
till  he  should  find,  to  knock  till  it 
should  be  opened  to  him.  It  seemed 
that  the  Spirit  was  leading  him;  and 
there  was  reason  to  hope  that  he 
might  be  brought  into  the  glorious 
liberty  of  the  children  of  God:  and 
when  I entreated  him  finally  not  to 
distrust  God,  but  to  believe  that  he 
was  still  standing  with  open  arms  to 
receive  every  prodigal  that  will  return 
to  him,  he  seemed  to  believe  it,  and  to 
feel  a pleasure  in  believing  it;  and 
though  his  face  was  wet  with  tears, 
there  seemed,  as  it  were,  some  rays  of 


THE  LAST  TIME. 


207 


hope  enkindling  in  his  eyes  and  play- 
ing about  his  lips,  like  the  golden 
beams  of  the  sun  breaking  through 
the  clouds,  and  gilding  the  rain  drops. 

It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for 
the  pious  soldiers  to  think  about  their 
occupation,  and  wonder  if  the  army 
was  the  proper  place  for  a Christian. 
One  young  man  particularly  used  to  tell 
his  thoughts,  and  once  repeated  what 
he  had  heard  that  Wellington  was  re- 
ported to  have  said,  “that  a man  with 
nice  religious  scruples  has  no  business 
in  the  army.”  But  whether  Wellington 
had  said  that  or  not,  this  young  man,  in 
common  with  many  others,  often  found 
himself  placed  in  circumstances,  and 
ordered  on  duties,  which,  had  he  been 
his  own  master,  he  could  not  have  ap- 
proved; and  it  was  a comfort  to  me 
that  I could  be  able  to  find  a ‘definite 


208 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


and  a scriptural  answer  for  such  trou- 
bled consciences,  such  as  that  already 
quoted  from  Luke,  and  another  from 
1 Cor.  vii.  20 — 24,  which  will  do  for 
other  relations  besides  that  of  the  ser- 
vant. ‘‘Let  every  man  abide  in  the 
same  calling  wherein  he  was  called. 
Art  thou  called  being  a servant?  care 
not  for  it;  but  if  thou  mayest  be 
free,  use  it  rather.  For  he  that  is 
called  in  the  Lord,  being  a servant,  is 
the  Lords  freeman:  likewise  als;o  he 
that  is  called,  being  free,  is  Christ’s 
servant.  Ye  are  bought  with  a price; 
be  ye  not  the  servants  of  men.  Breth- 
ren, let  every  man  wherein  he  is  called 
therein  abide  with  God.”  If  the  soldier 
can  obtain  a release  honourably,  let  him 
do  it;  but  for  the  present  it  is  plain 
that  he  is  to  attend  to  all  present 
duties;  always  remembering  what  is 


A THANKFUL  HEARER. 


209 


required  in  the  Fifth  Commandment, 
That  we  “preserve  the  honour,  and  per- 
form the  duties,  belonging  to  every 
one  in  their  several  places  and  rela- 
tions, as  superiors,  inferiors,  or  equals.” 

A THANKFUL  HEARER. 

Among  the  many  things  that  were 
crowded  into  those  busy  days,  when 
the  foreigners  who  had  been  residing 
at  Chusan  were  preparing  to  remove, 
and  the  Chinese  officers  were  resuming 
command  of  the  island,  and  were 
making  the  streets  to  resound,  and  the 
people  to  tremble,  with  the  clang  of 
gongs,  and  the  shrill  cry  of  those  who, 
when  an  officer  goes  abroad  in  his 
sedan,  precede  him  as  heralds,  to 
clear  the  road,  and  to  “prepare  his 
way we  not  yet  knowing  whether 
we  might  still  remain  upon  the  island 
18* 


210 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


after  it  should  be  given  up  by  the 
English,  or  whether  we  too  would  be 
compelled  to  pack  up  and  hasten 
aw’ay  to  join  our  mission  on  the  main- 
land— amongst  the  many  interesting 
occurrences  of  those  days  was  the  re- 
ceipt of  a note  from  a soldier  who  had 
of  late  been  frequent  in  his  atten- 
dance on  divine  service,  and  a close 
listener  when  present;  with  whom, 
however,  I had  not  a particular  ac- 
quaintance, nor  had  I conversed  with 
him  especially  on  religious  subjects. 
His  note  was  to  thank  me  for  the  re- 
ligious instruction  which  he  had  re- 
ceived, and  which  he  trusted  had  been 
blessed  to  his  conversion.  He  would 
have  come,  he  said,  to  thank  me  in 
person,  and  to  say  good-bye,  but  was 
detailed  on  service  from  which  he 
could  not  be  excused.  He  mentioned 


A THANKFUL  HEARER. 


211 


especially  the  discourse  of  a particular 
Sabbath  afternoon  as  that  which  had 
helped  him,  as  he  believed,  to  find  the 
way  of  life;  it  was  the  instruction  he 
needed,  and  the  truth  which,  as  he 
thought,  the  Holy  Ghost  had  used  on 
the  occasion  as  his  sword,  and  had 
made  effectual  to  his  salvation. 

He  could  not  be  content  to  leave  the 
country  without  telling  me  of  this, 
both  that  I might  be  assured  of  his 
grateful  remembrance,  and  that  I 
might  be  encouraged  to  continue  in  the 
same  good  work,  and  he  begged  me  not  to 
despair  of  doing  good  even  to  those 
who,  like  himself,  had  not  made  their 
case  known  to  me.  While,  perhaps,  I 
was  not  quite  so  confident  as  he  seemed 
to  be  respecting  that  particular  sermon 
as  being  the  truth  which  was  made  ef- 
fectual to  his  salvation,  for  he  had 


212 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


heard  much  truth  besides  that,  though 
this  may  have  served  to  arrest  his  at- 
tention at  that  particular  time,  and 
may  have  set  memory  and  conscience 
at  work  to  bring  other  truths  into  his 
remembrance,  and  to  set  his  sins  in 
order  before  him;  yet  I looked  up 
that  sermon,  to  see  what  it  was,  and 
found  it  to  be  one  with  which,  on  some 
accounts,  I was  less  pleased  than  any 
other  that  I had  preached  at  Chusan. 
It  had  been  hastily  prepared,  and  I 
remembered,  and  still  have  a clear  re- 
collection of  feeling  very  anxious  and 
troubled  while  walking  to  the  chapel ; 
for  I knew  that  it  was  very  slightly 
“ beaten  oil,”  though  I remember  trying 
to  encourage  and  comfort  myself  in  the 
fact  that  there  would  be  much  scripture 
in  my  discourse.  The  text  I knew 
was  important,  and  if  that  could  be 


A THANKFUL  HEARER. 


213 


sent  home  to  any  heart,  and  lodged  in 
any  memory,  it  might  accomplish  more 
than  all  I might  be  able  to  say  under 
the  most  favourable  circumstances.  I 
was  conscious  that  my  own  remarks 
were  altogether  common  place,  but  the 
discourse  had  much  of  God’s  own  truth 
in  it,  and  in  his  own  words,  and  this  he 
could  bless;  and  I earnestly  prayed 
that  he  would  not  let  his  word  be 
spoken  in  vain  on  that  day. 

I remembered  also,  when  the  con- 
gregation had  been  dismissed,  walking 
back  to  attend  the  Chinese  service  in 
the  city,  how  I went  with  desponding 
thoughts  and  feeling  that  I had  done 
very  poor  service  for  God  that  day. 
I recollected,  moreover,  that  the  day 
itself  was  quite  unfavourable,  very 
rainy,  the  ground  muddy,  and  the  house 
damp  and  chilly,  and  I doubted 


214 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


whether  there  would  be  many  in  atten- 
dance; and  so  it  was  ; the  audience  was 
very  small.  But  one  was  there  whom 
God,  it  seems,  had  sent  to  hear  the 
very  message  which  he  had  been 
making  ready  for  him. 

Therefore  that  note  of  the  soldier 
saying  that  that  unpromising  Sabbath, 
and  that,  to  me,  unpromising  sermon 
were  to  him  made  precious,  and 
amongst  the  things  which  he  would 
not  be  likely  ever  to  forget — that  note, 
I say,  was  to  me  a whisper  of  encour- 
agement. It  impressed  me  with  the 
importance,  in  preaching,  ever  to  make 
God’s  own  truth  the  prominent  thing ; 
and  indeed,  that  is  the  only  thing 
which  we  as  preachers  have  to  do — 
to  preach  the  preaching  which  he  bids 
us,  and  as  much  as  possible  to  let  God 
himself  speak  to  the  people  in  the 


A THANKFUL  HEARER. 


215 


very  language  of  his  own  scriptures. 
It  encouraged  me  (and  I have  many 
times  needed  such  encouragement)  to 
preach  to  a few  with  as  much  hope  and 
comfort  as  to  a great  assembly.  It 
admonished  me  not  to  let  rain  or  storm 
(unless  it  be  quite  extraordinary) 
keep  me  from  the  place  appointed  for 
worship,  for  on  that  ver}'’  rainy  Sab- 
bath, and  when  few  are  present,  the 
Holy  Spirit  may  be  present  to  open 
some  heart,  and  to  drop  into  it  the 
good  seed  of  the  word.  By  it  again 
I was  reminded  that  God’s  ways  are 
not  as  our  ways;  and  that  we  may  in 
hope  continue  to  sow  beside  all  waters. 

It  is  not  well  to  despise  “ the  day 
of  small  things.’'  That  was  rather  a 
“ thin  meeting”  when  Philip  preached 
to  the  eunuch  ; and  the  preacher  had 
to  travel  a long  road  to  meet  the  one 


216 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


who  was  in  need  of  his  instructions. 
God,  who  had  his  own  purposes  to  ac- 
complish, knew  how  to  bring  the  teacher 
and  the  disciple  together  ; and  while  he 
opened  the  mouth  of  the  one  to  com- 
municate truth,  he  opened  the  heart 
of  the  other  to  receive  it. 

COLLATEKAL  BENEFITS  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

The  good  accomplished  by  Christian 
missions  to  the  heathen  is  not  to  be 
judged  of  merely  by  the  reports  of 
operations  amongst  the  people  on  whom 
the  principal  labour  has  been  bestowed. 
Whatever  good  has  been  accomplished 
by  the  missionary  while  on  his  way  to 
his  field, — whatever  beneficial  influ- 
ence he  may  exert  upon  his  country- 
men whom  he  sometimes  meets  in  the 
country  in  which  both  are  strangers, 
these  may  be  mentioned  in  the  sum- 


BENEFITS  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS.  217 

ming  up  of  the  results  of  Foreign 
missions.  If  in  consequence  of  the 
establishment  of  a Christian  mission 
there  are  now  influences  to  meet  the 
sailor  or  soldier  in  a foreign  port,  or 
distant  inland  station,  which  may  in  a 
measure  restrain  him  from  vice  to 
which  in  former  times  there  were 
strong  temptations — if  there  are  now 
influences  which  may  help  to  bring 
back  to  his  memory  the  religious  in- 
structions of  his  childhood,  and  the 
serious  impressions  of  his  early  days, 
we  have,  even  in  this,  reason  for  thanks- 
giving that  the  Foreign  Missionary 
enterprise  was  ever  undertaken.  Those 
W'ho  have  husbands,  or  brothers,  or  sons 
who  from  taste,  or  necessity,  or  philan- 
thropy go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships, 
and  do  business  in  the  great  waters, 
may  be  glad  that  in  so  many  of  the 
19 


218 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


distant  parts  of  the  earth  those  friends 
may  meet  with  that  which  will  remind 
them  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  claims  of 
the  Christian  religion.  And  surely  it 
ought  to  be  a matter  of  thankfulness 
to  the  anxious  parent  whose  wayward 
son  is  wandering  over  the  sea,  or  who 
in  a fit  of  desperation  or  folly  has 
thrown  himself  into  the  army,  to 
know  that  there  are  ministers  of  reli- 
gion at  some  of  the  places  to  which 
Grod’s  providence  may  direct  the  steps 
of  his  son.  How  often  may  it  have 
occurred  that  the  missionary  who  may 
have  been  in  part  supported  by  the 
widow’s  mite,  and  prospered  by  the 
widow’s  prayers,  may  have  been  moved 
by  the  widow’s  God  to  go  and  speak 
to  her  son,  whom  for  this  purpose 
he  has  brought  within  the  reach  of  the 
missionary’s  counsel ! God’s  thoughts 


BENEFITS  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS.  219 

are  not  like  our  thoughts.  “His 
ways  are  in  the  sea,  and  his  path  in 
the  great  waters,  and  his  footsteps  are 
not  known.”  Those  who  give  to  the 
Lord,  to  them  it  shall  be  given  back 
again.  Such  as  give  to  the  Lord  in 
the  support  of  missions  may  have  it 
given  back  into  their  bosoms,  by  hear- 
ing in  some  distant  day,  or  perhaps  not 
till  both  are  gathered  home  to  heaven, 
that  some  friend  of  theirs  was  met  in 
a foreign  land  by  a missionary  of  the 
cross,  and  by  him  invited  to  his  house, 
or  to  his  chapel,  and  affectionately  en- 
treated to  attend  to  the  salvation  of 
his  soul:  or  that  some  dear  one  in  his 
last  sickness  far  away  and  with  stran- 
gers, was  found  out  by  a servant  of 
Him  who  went  about  doing  good,  and 
was  ministered  unto ; that  his  dying 
pillow  was  smoothed,  the  chilling  death- 


220 


SCENES  m CHUSAN. 


sweat  wiped  from  his  brow,  and  the 
“ cup  of  cold  water”  held  to  his  burn- 
ing lips  ; his  last  words  gathered  up, 
and  his  dying  messages  sent  to  the  not 
forgotten  ones  who  otherwise  would 
never  have  known  where  or  how  he 
died.  And  so  it  is  that  “He  that  hath 
pity  upon  the  poor  lendeth  unto  the 
Lord;  and  that  which  he  hath  given 
will  he  pay  him  again.” 

Moreover,  missionary  labours  are 
aided  by  whatever  good  is  done  to  any 
soldier,  or  sailor,  or  foreign  resident  at 
the  place  where  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sionary may  lie  ; for  every  good  Chris- 
tian is  an  epistle,  known  and  read  of 
all  men.  Every  person  in  whom  the 
Holy  Spirit  has  wrought  the  new  birth 
is  an  illustration  of  what  the  mission- 
ary preaches,  when  he  says  to  the  hea- 
then, “ Ye  must  be  born  again.”  Every 


BENEFITS  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS.  221 

godly  example  is  a constant  sermon, 
and  a living  commentary  on  the  scrip- 
tures; and  when  missionaries  have 
around  them  many  such  examples, 
their  hearts  are  encouraged,  and  their 
hands  strengthened ; while  each  new 
convert  is  another  added  to  the  sol- 
diers of  Christ,  to  engage  in  the  war- 
fare against  Satan’s  kingdom — another 
added  to  that  great  company  who  are 
engaged  in  offering  that  prayer,  “ Thy 
kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done  on 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.” 

Therefore,  as  we  have  opportunity, 
let  us  do  good  unto  all  men,  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  and  by  the  way. 
We  are  debtors  both  to  Greek  and 
barbarian ; to  the  heathen  and  to  our 
countrymen. 

“In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  and 
in  the  evening  withhold  not  thy  hand ; 

19* 


222 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


for  thou  knowest  not  which  shall  pros- 
per, either  this  or  that,  or  whether 
they  both  shall  be  alike  good.” 

WHAT  PAY  DO  YOU  RECEIVE? 

Our  intercourse  with  some  of  the 
officers’  families,  and  with  merchants, 
and  people  from  the  ships,  was  very 
pleasant.  But  there  were  many  who 
were  at  a loss  to  understand  what 
could  be  our  motives  in  coming  so  far, 
and  subjecting  ourselves  to  so  many 
inconveniences  for  the  small  returns 
which,  as  they  judged,  were  to  come 
from  it. 

A question  that  was  frequently 
asked  us  was  this,  “What  pay  do  you 
get?”  We  answered  that  missionaries 
from  our  country  received  what  was 
considered  sufficient  to  meet  their 
necessary  expenses : that  those  of  our 


WHAT  PAY  DO  YOU  RECEIVE?  223 

Board  of  Missions  then  in  China  were 
waiting  till  they  should  ascertain  what 
the  probable  yearly  cost  of  living 
would  be,  and  then  their  salaries 
would  be  fixed  accordingly. 

“Indeed!”  they  would  say,  “and 
is  that  all  ? And  no  provision  for  old 
age,  or  infirmity?  A person,  you 
know,  breaks  down  in  this  climate 
pretty  soon ; and  then  what  is  to 
become  of  him  and  his  family,  if  he 
has  made  no  provision  for  a rainy  day  ? 
Have  you  then  no  invalid  fund,  or 
retired  list,  or  half  pay  and  rations,  or 
something  of  that  sort — no  pensions  ?” 

No,  we  would  answer,  we  have  to 
trust  providence  both  for  our  daily 
bread,  and  for  provisions  for  the 
future. 

“Well,  well,”  they  would  say,  “ that 
is  curious,  and  rather  hard  too.  We 


224  SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 

don’t  do  things  in  that  way;  we  mean 
to  be  loyal  to  our  queen,  to  be  sure; 
but  then  we  expect  that  she  will  pay 
US  weU  for  it.  Your  work  is  hard, 
and  we  would  think,  very  perplexing, 
and  unpleasant;  and  living  in  the 
midst  of  the  natives,  and  having  to 
associate  with  them  must  be  very  dis- 
agreeable. We  have  some  rough  times, 
’tis  true,  but  a good  deal  of  our  service 
is  about  as  you  see  we  have  it  here, 
where  we  have  hardly  exercise  enough 
to  give  us  an  appetite  for  dinner;  but 
still  we  have  both  pay  and  rations, 
with  a prospect  of  pensions  if  we 
need  them,  and  a chance  for  glory 
too.” 

And  sometimes  they  would  go  on  to 
ask  “if  we  honestly  thought  there 
was  much  prospect  of  making  tolerably 
good  Christians  out  of  such  material 


WHAT  PAY  DO  YOU  RECEIVE?  225 

as  we  had  there — those  bare-pated, 
lying,  thieving  natives !”  as  they 
called  them.  And  then  we  would 
have  to  explain  to  them  that,  as  to 
rations,  we  had  to  ti’ust  in  the  promise 
which  says,  ‘‘Bread  shall  be  given 
him;  his  waters  shall  be  sure.”  As 
to  pay,  we  expect  to  have  to  wait 
awhile,  but  there  is  a promise  that  “ he 
that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing 
precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come 
again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his 
sheaves  with  him.”  As  to  glory,  we 
ought  not  to  wish  for  anything  more 
than  what  Paul  had  in  view  when  he 
said,  “ I have  fought  a good  fight,  I 
have  finished  my  course,  I have  kept 
the  faith : henceforth  there  is  laid  up 
for  me  a crown  of  righteousness.” 

As  to  the  success  of  our  labours,  we 
have  to  live  and  labour  in  hope,  and 


226 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


with  faith,  and  in  obedience  to  that 
command  of  the  Master,  “ Go  ye  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature.”  We  hoped  that  here 
and  there  one  would  be  enlightened  in 
the  knowledge  of  Christ,  and  be  turned 
from  his  dumb  idols  to  the  service  of 
the  living  God : and  we  believed  that  at 
some  time  all  the  nations  would  be 
tm’ned  unto  the  Lord. 

WORLDLY  MEN  CANNOT  UNDERSTAND  OUR 
MOTIVES. 

In  the  cabin  of  a small  naval  steamer, 
on  board  of  which,  by  courtesy,  an 
invalid  friend  w^as  passenger,  who 
from  his  state-room  overheard,  and 
from  whom  I received,  the  substance 
of  what  I am  about  to  write — on  that 
steamer,  and  in  that  cabin,  the  officers 
were  at  dinner.  Some  were  young, 


OUR  MOTIVES  NOT  UNDERSTOOD.  227 

and  some  had  seen  service  in  various 
parts  of  the  world.  They  were  leav- 
ing a port  where  they  had  spent  a few 
days,  and  while  there,  some  of  them 
had  formed  the  acquaintance  of  one  of 
their  own  country-women,  a lady  that 
would  rank  wdth  most  of  them  either 
as  to  birth,  or  wealth,  or  accomplish- 
ments ; and  she  also  had  seen  service 
in  foreign  parts,  and  hard  service  of 
many  years,  but  not  for  the  sake  of 
wealth  or  fame,  for  she  was  engaged 
in  the  management  of  a school  of  hea- 
then girls,  whom  she  clothed,  and  fed, 
and  lodged,  defraying  the  expenses  of 
the  establishment,  in  a great  measure, 
from  her  own  resources. 

The  meats  had  been  removed,  the 
second  course  had  been  discussed,  and 
now  the  fruit  was  on,  and  the  wine 
was  passing,  when,  from  a grave  person- 


228 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


age  at  the  head  of  the  table,  comes  the 
abrupt  inquiry,  as  if  in  soliloquy  : 
“ What  could  have  influenced  that  lady 
to  come  to  this  country  and  live  in  the 
way  she  does — a lady  of  such  educa- 
tion and  cultivated  manners — with 
more  than  a comfortable  living  at  home, 
respectable  connections,  from  a healthy 
country,  a beautiful  town  ; while  here 
all  her  employments  and  associations 
are,  to  my  mind,  anything  but  agree- 
able— the  perplexities  of  an  extensive 
establishment;  to  have  the  providing 
for  and  the  training  of  such  a horde 
of  young  heathens  ; to  go  about,  as  she 
does,  amongst  the  natives,  and  sit  in 
their  uncomfortable  habitations,  her- 
self much  of  the  time  in  miserable 
health,  with  a climate  that  is  ruinous  to 
most  constitutions,  and  much  of  the 
time  quite  disagreeable  ! What  motive 


OUR  MOTIVES  NOT  UNDERSTOOD.  229 

could  have  brought  or  can  keep  such 
a lady  here,  I cannot  imagine.” 

“ Some  early  disappointment,  sir,  I 
fancy,”  said  one,  pouring  out  another 
glass,  and  with  an  air  that  seemed  to 
say.  No  hard  matter  for  a discerning 
man  like  me  to  divine  the  cause. 
“ Some  affair  of  the  heart,  sir,  in 
earlier  days  ; only,  instead  of  burying 
herself  in  a convent,  as  was  once  the 
fashion,  she  has  devoted  herself  to  this 
sort  of  religious  life.” 

“ Life  in  a convent,  in  some  pleasant 
country,  and  in  a romantic  spot,  would, 
to  my  notion,  be  far  preferable  to  an 
isolated  existence  in  this  end  of  the 
earth,  amongst  tawny  natives,  con- 
tending with  fevers,  and  exposed  to 
dangers,”  said  another  voice. 

“ I imagine,  sir,”  said  another,  setting 
down  his  glass,  and  drawing  himself 
20 


230 


SCENES  IN  CiroSAN. 


up  like  one  who  had  no  trouble  in 
solving  questions  of  this  nature,  “ 1 
imagine,  sir,  that  the  course  of  this 
lady  may  be  accounted  for,  as  well  as 
that  of  many  others,  and  perhaps,  of 
most  of  those  we  meet  and  hear  of  in 
different  parts  of  the  world,  under  the 
general  name  of  missionaries,  by  an- 
alysing the  religious  feeling  in  man- 
kind. That  which  impels  the  Moham- 
medan to  his  prayers,  ablutions,  and 
pilgrimages ; the  devotees  of  India  to 
self-torture,  and  the  monk  to  aU  his 
austerities — the  same,  it  may  he,  in 
some  over-zealous  Protestant,  developes 
itself  in  voluntarily  submitting  to  the 
expatriation,  exposures,  discomforts, 
diseases,  and  shortening  of  life  to 
which  these  missionaries  are  exposed.” 
“ But,”  said  he  at  the  head  of  the 
table,  “I  can  hardly  adopt  your  op- 


OUR  MOTIVES  NOT  UNDERSTOOD.  231 

inions,  gentlemen,  for  she  appears  a 
sensible  person,  of  correctly  balanced 
mind;  cheerful,  without  any  of  the 
tokens  of  misanthropy;  no  gloominess 
or  absent-mindedness,  or  that  kind  of 
indifference  to  the  world  which  char- 
acterizes a disappointed  person  that 
feeds  on  melancholy,  and  broods  over 
blighted  hopes.  And,  again,  there  is 
none  of  the  extravagance  of  the  reli- 
gious enthusiast;  none  of  the  boasting 
or  parade  of  the  religious  devotee; 
and  too  much  evidence  of  real  genuine 
sincerity  for  a hypocrite.  Why,  to 
see  her  in  that  school,  one  is  reminded  of 
nothing  else  than  a devoted  mother 
amongst  her  own  children — calm,  cheer- 
ful, and  doing  whatever  she  finds  need- 
ing to  be  done,  simply  because  she 
loves  to  do  it.  In  visiting  her  sick 
neighbours,  and  teaching  from  house  to 


232 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


house,  there  seems  to  be  only  an 
honest  desire  to  do  the  poor  people 
good.  She  keeps  about  her  work  just 
as  steadily  and  hopefully  as  if  she  fully 
expected  that  her  efforts  would,  at  the 
proper  time,  bring  about  the  result 
which  she  desires.  I confess  there  is 
something  in  all  this  which  I do  not 
yet  altogether  understand;  your  theo- 
ries, gentlemen,  in  my  opinion,  do  not 
meet  this  case.” 

And,  now,  can  we  account  for  the 
course  of  this  lady?  Can  we  find  a 
clue  by  which  to  get  at  the  motives 
which  impelled  her  ? Let  the  question 
be  answered  by  our  repeating  here  a 
few  words  which  we  once  heard  from 
the  lips  of  one  who  had  given  many 
years  of  toil  and  care  to  the  service  of 
the  church.  At  the  time  to  which  we 
refer,  he  was  travel-worn  from  a long 


OUR  MOTIVES  NOT  UNDERSTOOD.  233 

journey,  which  he  had  undertaken  in 
order  that  he  might  better  serve  the 
cause  to  which  he  had  given  many 
years  of  labour,  and  for  which  he  had 
resigned  political  honours  and  rewards. 
He  was  addressing  a little  band  of 
missionaries  in  the  wilderness,  who 
had  been  long  and  anxiously  expecting 
his  visit.  He  encouraged  the  mission- 
aries by  a reference  to  the  command  to 
preach  the  gospel,  the  comfort  always 
attending  the  faithful  discharge  of  duty, 
and  by  a reference  to  the  promises. 
He  alluded  to  the  pleasure  always  at- 
tending faithful  endeavours  to  benefit 
others.  He  spoke  of  the  love  of  Christ 
constraining  us,  his  grace  assisting  us, 
his  cheering  presence  with  us.  But, 
said  he,  the  world  cannot  understand 
our  motives;  they  do  not  know  our 
feelings : therefore  some  think  we  are 
20* 


234 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


zealots.  Some  almost  believe  we  are 
mad. 

Thea  he  related  a few  lines  of  his 
former  experience,  like  this  : “ Before  I 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office 
in  which  I still  am,  I was  associated 
in  my  professional  labours  with  men 
who  were  aspirants  for  political  dis- 
tinction, and  perhaps  my  own  pros- 
pects for  honours  and  wealth  were  as 
promising  as  any  of  theirs ; and  when 
I abandoned  all  these,  and  relinquished 
an  honourable  office  and  its  emoluments, 
for  the  comparative  seclusion,  the 
work,  and  bare  support  of  one  in  the 
missionary  service,  many  of  my  former 
associates  looked  upon  me  as  one  bo- 
come  suddenly  deranged.  Some  warmly 
remonstrated  against  my  throwing  my- 
self away  in  such  a manner.  But,”  he 
added,  stretching  out  his  hand,  in 


OUK  MOTIVES  NOT  UNDERSTOOD.  235 

■which  he  grasped  the  Bible,  “they 
had  never  read  this  book  as  I had  read 
it — they  did  not  understand  it  as  I un- 
derstood it — they  did  not  love  it  as  1 
loved  it,  and  of  course  could  not  un- 
derstand how  I could  be  willing  to 
make  those  sacrifices  of  human  ap- 
plause, and  fame,  and  wealth,  in  order 
that  I might  be  instrumental  in  spread- 
ing abroad  this  book,  and  the  offer  of 
salvation  which  it  contains ; they  knew 
not  of  the  grace  Avhich  quickeneth, 
and  had  not  experience  of  the  love  of 
Christ  which  constraineth  us.” 

Worldl}’’  men  cannot  understand  our 
motives,  because  they  have  not  read 
the  Bible  as  we,  by  the  aid  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  have  been  enabled  to 
read  it.  By  multitudes  our  motives 
will  never  in  this  world  be  understood. 
They  now  esteem  us  mad.  But  when 


236 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


they  have  passed  the  boundaries  of 
time,  in  how  very  short  a space  will 
they  perceive  that  those  were  mad 
who  laboured  for  the  meat  which 
perisheth,  and  not  for  that  which  en- 
dureth  unto  everlasting  life  ? 

THE  FASHION  OF  THIS  WORLD  PASSETH 
AWAY. 

And  what  has  become  of  all  those 
whose  acquaintance  we  made  during 
the  period  of  which  we  have  been 
speaking  ? Many  of  the  soldiers  have 
been  strowed  along  the  track  of  time; 
many  found  graves  in  China,  a few  in 
the  sea,  and  many  since  in  India,  and 
some  of  these  on  the  fields  of  battle  ; 
and  as  those  have  fallen  out  of  the 
ranks,  recruits  have  been  brought  on 
to  fill  their  places. 

And  where  now  are  those  who  have 


THIS  WORLD  PASSETH  AWAY.  237 

disappeared  from  the  face  of  the 
earth  ? When  we  knew  them,  those 
w’ho  gave  evidence  of  having  the  one 
thing  needful  w'ere  the  few  ; while  the 
large  proportion  were  without  God, 
without  Christ,  and  having  no  good 
hope,  and  if  they  died  thus  where 
must  they  be  now  ? 

There  were  men  in  the  diplomatic 
service  of  their  several  countries  ; and 
there  were  travellers,  having  their  minds 
on  forwarding  the  interests  of  commerce 
or  science,  or  to  make  a name,  or  to  make 
a living,  and  to  gratify  a fondness  for 
travelling.  And  there  were  merchants, 
and  they  laboured — laboured  hard — 
and  this  they  did  even  for  such  things 
as  “ perish  with  the  using and  while 
still  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  wealth, 
some  saw  what  they  had  gathered 
slipping  from  them ; fortune,  as  they 


238 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


chose  to  call  it,  did  not  always  favour 
them  ; for  in  that  country,  as  well  as 
in  this,  riches  had  the  habit  of  taking 
wings  and  flying  away.  Some  had  their 
possessions  taken  from  them;  and  some 
were  taken  from  their  possessions. 
Others  are  still  clinging  to  their  gains. 
Now  and  then  there  was  a pious  man 
among  them,  who  honoured  the  Lord 
with  his  substance ; who  was  the  mis- 
sionaries’ friend,  and  who  did  much  to 
assist  in  the  work  in  which  they  were 
engaged ; and  of  these  some  have 
already  gone  to  their  reward.  There 
was  once  in  China  an  eminent  exam- 
ple of  a large-minded,  and  large- 
hearted  Christian  merchant.  While  he 
lived  he  was  doing  good — scattering 
but  still  increasing ; into  his  lap  the 
Lord  seemed  to  be  pouring  more  be- 
cause he  was  so  good  a steward  of 


THIS  WORLD  PASSETH  AWAY.  239 

what  had  been  entrusted  to  him.  He 
had  some  riches,  but  with  them  he 
had  that  good  name  which  is  rather  to 
be  chosen  than  great  riches.  He 
“ rests  from  his  labours”  now. 

With  most  of  the  merchants  there, 
the  ruling  desire  seemed  to  be  that 
they  might  amass  “ a fortune,”  and 
return  home  to  enjoy  it ; and  how  sad 
must  be  the  reflections  of  those  who 
think  of  what  the  soul  is  worth,  at 
seeing  death  overtaking  these,  one  after 
another,  and  finding  them  nearly  in  the 
state  of  the  man  of  the  parable,  who 
said,  “ Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods  laid 
up  for  many  years — take  thine  ease.” 

One,  a sea  captain,  having  sent  his 
treasure  on  before-hand,  had  his  neck 
broken  by  a falling  spar  just  as  he  was 
leaving  port  homeward  bound,  in  high 
spirits,  and  while  waving  adieu  to  friends 


240 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


on  shore.  One,  while  coming  in  from  the 
last  voyage  which  he  was  to  make,  and 
then  retire,  though  yet  in  the  midst 
of  a vigorous  manhood,  but  with 
wealth  enough  to  give  him  plenty  to 
eat,  and  to  drink,  and  to  be  merry 
over,  went  down  with  his  ship,  as  is 
supposed,  a little  outside  the  harbour  ; 
the  very  fate  he  dreaded,  and  on  ac- 
count of  which  dread  he  had  deter- 
mined to  get  off  from  the  sea.  Three 
young  men,  enterprising,  in  a dashing 
business,  frank,  open-hearted,  friendly 
to  everybody,  yet  having  a sharp  eye 
to  the  main  chance,  were  summoned 
early  to  their  reckoning.  Their  decease 
was  not  far  apart,  though  they  died  in 
different  parts  of  the  world.  And 
now,  as  to  all  those  things  which  they 
had  provided — whose  shall  they  be  ? 

There  was  one — poor  man  ! — who 


THIS  WORLD  PASSETH  AWAY.  241 

made  too  much  haste  to  be  rich — too 
much  haste  even  for  a worldly-wise 
man.  Credit  failed  him;  for  in  his  haste 
he  betrayed  too  much  of  the  evil  eye. 
When  confidence  steps  out,  business 
ceases  to  come  in.  So  it  came  to  pass 
that  he,  who  started  with  a much  fairer 
prospect  than  some  others  who  rapidly 
grew  into  a lucrative  trade,  declined  in 
his  business  ; his  goods  went  piece  by 
piece,  then  yard  by  yard,  to  procure 
him  the  necessaries  of  life ; he  was 
reduced  to  straits ; and  he  died,  as 
some  think,  if  not  of  starvation,  yet 
in  consequence  of  too  much  fasting. 
But  his  proud  spirit  was  whole  in  him 
to  the  very  last. 

THE  author’s  apology. 

It  often  happens  that  the  story- 
teller’s memory  is  longer  than  the  pa- 
21 


242 


SCENES  m CHUSAN. 


tience  of  his  hearers.  Perhaps  it  is 
so  in  this  instance;  so  let  me  stop 
where  I am,  while  by  the  way  of  apol- 
ogy, permit  me  to  add,  that  I have 
written  these  sketches,  partly  because 
I love  occasionally  to  bring  back  the 
past;  partly  to  preserve  for  myself, 
and  for  whoever  else  may  feel  any  in- 
terest in  the  subject,  a record  of  events 
that  were  fast  falling  into  forgetfulness; 
and  partly  that  whoever  may  read 
what  I have  written — if  in  this  busy 
age  any  person  can  afford  the  leisure 
to  take  up  this  little  bundle  of  remi- 
niscences— partly,  I say,  that  they  may 
live  over  with  me  those  by  gone  days. 
I have  written  too  with  some  hope  that 
these  reminiscences  may  do  good  in 
some  way ; for  they  show,  though 
faintly  indeed,  what  the  writer  felt 
very  strongly  when  these  events  were 


THE  author’s  apology.  243 

passing,  and  what  his  memory  still 
keeps  him  thinking  on,  viz  : that  reli- 
gion is  everything — that  to  be  a Chris- 
tian, a follower  of  Christ  and  friend 
of  God,  is  of  the  first  and  chief  impor- 
tance— that  in  a short  time  all  we  will, 
want  will  be  the  one  thing  needful, 
the  good  part  which  cannot  be  taken 
away. 

They  show  that  in  any  lawful 
calling  a man  may  be  a Christian ; that 
even  though  in  a calling  which  con- 
science disapproves,  yet  if  kept  there 
by  constraint,  we  may  still  live  near 
to  God,  and  enjoy  his  favour ; and 
that  wherever  the  Christian  may  find 
himself  placed  he  should  strive  to  be 
doing  good,  letting  his  light  shine  to  all 
around. 

They  encourage  us  to  be  ever  care- 
ful to  observe,  and  quick  to  improve 


244 


SCENES  IN  CHCSAN. 


opportunities  for  doing  good,  ever 
ready  to  drop  a word  in  season ; for 
“we  watch  for  souls.”  They  show 
that  private  Christians,  and  those  with- 
out education,  may  do  much  in  leading 
others  to  Christ,  and  in  strengthening 
their  brethren  by  entreaties,  counsels, 
and  a godly  example.  They  teach  us 
not  to  despise  the  day  of  small  things, 
but  to  be  willing  to  do  good  by  little 
and  little,  and  not  be  discouraged 
though  the  multitude  still  turn  away 
from  the  truth.  If  out  of  those  seve- 
ral hundred  soldiers  there  was  here 
and  there  one  to  say,  “Thy  people 
shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my 
God,”  there  was  joy  in  the  presence 
of  the  angels  of  God  over  those  few 
sinners  that  repented. 

That  little  band  of  praying  soldiers 
was,  in  proportion  to  their  regiments, 


THE  author’s  apology.  245 

as  generally  the  church  has  been  in 
the  world.  “ Though  many  are  called, 
few  are  chosen;”  and  so  we  still  find 
it;  few  believe  our  report;  the  arm  of 
the  Lord  is  revealed  unto  but  few; 
nevertheless  we  should  not  grow  weary 
in  well  doing. 

It  is  a source  of  some  gratification 
to  be  able  to  call  to  mind  some  in- 
stances in  which  dying  saints  were 
comforted — in  which  desponding  ones 
were  encouraged  to  look  up,  and  the 
afflicted  enabled  to  find  consolation, 
and  the  sick  to  think  of  Him  who  both 
healeth  diseases  and  forgiveth  iniquities. 
And  that  is  a part  of  our  mission  here 
in  the  world,  to  bear  one  another’s 
burdens,  and  so  fulfil  the  law  of  Christ 
— to  speak  comfortably  to  God’s  peo- 
ple. We  are,  if  possible,  to  help,  or 
to  direct  each  other  how  to  be  happy ; 

21* 


246 


SCENES  IN  CHUSAN. 


to  assuage  grief;  to  dry  up  tears;  to 
be  kind ; to  do  good  unto  all  men  as 
we  have  opportunity,  especially  to 
those  who  are  of  the  household  of 
faith. 


-.a 


